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International Women's Day 2016: Put your questions to the inspirational Maria Toorpakai, author of A Different Kind of Daughter

3 replies

RachelMumsnet · 02/03/2016 17:06

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2016 (on March 8) we’re inviting you to send in your Qs to professional squash player Maria Toorpakai. Maria grew up in a violently oppressive tribal region of Pakistan, where girls rarely leave their homes and are forbidden from playing sport.

But Maria did, disguising herself as a boy for many years to follow her dream, and becoming a lightning rod of freedom in her country's fierce battle over women's rights.
 When her true gender was eventually exposed, Maria was thrust into the national spotlight – and the crosshairs of the Taliban, who wanted Maria and her family dead.

Maria was forced to flee her country in order to continue playing and settled in Canada. She is now the number one female squash player in Pakistan.

Put your questions to Maria before midday on Tuesday 8 March and we’ll upload her answers to your questions later that afternoon.

Maria’s memoir, A Different Kind of Daughter tells of Maria’s harrowing Journey to play the sport she knew was her destiny. Read an extract here.

International Women's Day 2016: Put your questions to the inspirational Maria Toorpakai, author of A Different Kind of Daughter

AnnMumsnet · 07/03/2016 13:49

hi - some general Qs about squash from me - my children play (aged 10 and 12) and really enjoy it - what do you enjoy about playing, have you ever smashed into the wall and really hurt yourself (I see blood splatters on court a lot Shock and what do you think can be done to encourage women or other children to take it up? I had a few sessions with the coach but it ended because no one else was very interested. I think it's such a good sport for all round fitness (plus all weather) so it was a real shame!

RachelMumsnet · 08/03/2016 10:36

Hi Maria

Happy Women's Day and thanks for taking the time out of your schedule to answer our questions today. Congratulations both on your achievements in sport and for writing your book! I'd love to know how you came to write the book and how difficult you found it to write. Also can you tell us whether you've read any other inspirational memoirs and (last question) who has most inspired you in the world of sport? THANKS

Just a quick note to say that we're going to be running a twitter comp later today to win one of 3 copies of Maria's book A Different Kind of Daughter. Follow @mumsnetbooks for more info.

RachelMumsnet · 10/03/2016 09:36

We now have Maria's answers back and are going to upload them to the thread. Thanks to all those who sent in questions.

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