#GenderIdentityAnaya Bangar, the daughter of former Indian coach and cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has spoken candidly about transgender struggles in cricketing circles following her gender transition. Her testimonial is telling of the kind of discrimination and harassment that people who are trans face in their professional sporting settings.
Once Aryan Bangar, Anaya openly discussed her self-discovery process, explaining how she felt gender dysphoria at a very young age. “When I was eight or nine, I would put on my mother’s clothes and say to myself in the mirror, ‘I am a girl. I want to be a girl.'” Her early identity conflict symptoms eventually prompted her to accept herself for who she truly was and transition.
But upon transitioning, Anaya was subjected to appalling behavior from within the cricket fraternity. She disclosed that certain cricketers sent her unwanted nude images and subjected her to verbal and emotional abuse. “There was one person who publicly embarrassed me but then would secretly request my pictures,” she said. In another shocking incident, Anaya mentioned a veteran cricketer making improper advances towards her.
Although she had a passionate love for cricket, all this resulted in a toxic environment forcing her to stay away from the sport. Her journey also crossed paths with significant policy changes in cricket. Later in 2023, the International Cricket Council placed a ban on transgender women competing in international women’s matches, giving reasons of fairness and safety. Anaya expressed her disappointment with the decision, pointing out that such policies can alienate and discourage aspiring transgender athletes.
Now residing in the United Kingdom, Anaya continues to advocate for the transgender community in sport. Her story is a reminder of the pressing need for inclusivity, sensitivity, and protective structures to enable athletes of all identities to participate in sport without fear or discrimination.
