Pakistan’s top female squash player used to have to pretend she was a boy. When Maria Toorpakai’s secret was finally revealed she had to choose between the sport she loved and her family’s safety.
Former world champion Jonathon Power received a letter from the athlete and decided to visit to learn who this passionate girl was.
He ended up rescuing her, calling her the “Rocky” of the squash world. With her father’s blessing, he brought her to Canada to train, and make her a professional champion.
She is now #49 in the world.
(LISTEN to the story from Morning Edition-Saturday)