Boxing is a tool for empowerment and not just a sport. Along with teaching women to build confidence it also makes them confront their insecurities with every punch. It is a journey of self-discovery. Though the sport was a niche pursuit in Bangladesh before, it is now gaining significant momentum among women.
One such woman is Afra Khandaker, a student at the Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST). In the 52kg weight category at the 7th National Boxing Competition 2025 in Dhaka, she recently won a silver medal.
When Afra first pulled on a pair of boxing gloves, she did not feel strong or fearless, she was nervous.
“I thought I would just get beaten up,” she says, smiling at how far she has come. Afra never liked aggression and the idea of standing in a ring and taking punches felt completely unreal.
Yet it is boxing, not football or cricket, that has shaped her path.
Childhood in open fields
Afra’s childhood was noisy and energetic, full of running around with her sister Afeida and the girls from her neighbourhood. Their father encouraged them to play outdoors. He believed his daughters should not be confined inside.
“He would take us to the field so we could run and play football,” Afra recalls. “That’s where it all began. I liked football a lot, and my dream as a child was to be a footballer.”
But life had other plans for her.
Watching her sister leave
Afra’s younger sister Afieda was admitted to BKSP, the country’s top sports institute, while still in class five. The transition was not easy for a child. “She used to call home quite often and cry a lot. It was very difficult for us. I wanted to be there for her and take care of her,” Afra remembers.
That is when her parents decided Afra should also aim for BKSP. She started practising cricket and even tried shooting as possible entry routes. But the turning point arrived through an unexpected door.
Her father, who was a member of the stadium committee in Satkhira, was asked to help host a short boxing camp. One of the coaches suggested they join the competition.
“I wasn’t interested, and my father wasn’t either. But they insisted, saying it was only a seven-day camp, and it could help build my self-confidence,” said Afra who later reluctantly agreed.
Fear inside the gloves
She remembers clearly the first time she wore gloves and how scared she was.
What began as a one-week camp slowly turned into something larger. The coaches noticed her potential and advised her to continue. For Afra, the decision was not about ambition at that time. It was about her sister Pranti. Since boxing was her way into BKSP, she took it up.
More than punches to face
The battle started outside the ring soon after she started since boxing is a taboo for women in our country. Afra had to hear endless criticism.
“From the very beginning, people told me boxing is not for girls. But the constant support from my family made me continue it.”
In most cases, parents fear society’s reaction. However, it is their support that has allowed her to go further in a sport that still lacks proper infrastructure, funding or media recognition.
“We don’t have facilities like football or cricket. However, boxing is gradually getting more exposure. If we keep working, even if the benefits don’t reach us, the next generation will be rewarded. That thought keeps me motivated.”
The thought of football
Afra admits that she still wonders at times about what it might have been like had she had become a footballer. “Maybe I could have played for the national team. But this isn’t a regret. It’s just a small thought. I love boxing now. I never felt I chose the wrong path.”
She now speaks of boxing with love and warmth. It has given her discipline, ambition and a place in Bangladeshi sport.
Dreams beyond borders
Afra is not afraid to set her visions high. “I want to play in the South Asian Games. If possible, I want to play in the Olympics. There are also tournaments at universities abroad, and I hope to take part in those too. The rest is in God’s hands.”
These are big dreams for a Bangladeshi boxer. Opportunities at the international level remain rare. But Afra’s words carry a sense of belief. She knows it will be difficult, yet she continues to train with specific targets in mind.
Advice to the next generation
Afra hopes her journey will encourage more girls to take the step she once took with fear. When asked what her advice would be for the next generation, she says, “Two things matter most. First, ask yourself if you really have the passion to play? If you do, the second step is to come to the field with courage. There will be obstacles, but once you become comfortable, once you learn from coaches and seniors, everything will be possible.”
She adds that the hardest part is showing that first bit of courage.
A fighter all the way
Afra’s story is not just about sport. It is about taking a chance and facing fear. Though she never planned to become a boxer, she walked it with determination.
Her fight is not only inside the ring but also against stereotypes that say women do not belong in such a sport. Each punch she throws is a reminder that the field belongs to her as much as to anyone else.
Boxing found Afra and now, every day she trains, competes and dreams of medals and games. She proves that even when life changes your path, you can still turn it into something worth fighting for. As they say, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”
