Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar shared a heartwarming post on Instagram explaining the gender confirmation surgery she underwent in Thailand.
She described the difficult journey for her and her family and thanked her family members for always supporting her.
“This journey has not been easy… not only for me, but for my family. It took time to understand, accept and stand by me. It was not instant. There were moments of confusion, questions and growth for all of us. But today, as I stand here, I am filled with nothing but gratitude,” she wrote on her Instagram.
Anaya Bangar unveils Sanjay’s role
She also revealed the role her father Sanjay Bangar played in these tough times.
“Having my father by my side in one of the most important moments of my life means everything. His support didn’t come overnight…but when it did, it was real, unconditional and strong. This surgery was a big step for me, but having him with me made me feel like it was possible,” she added.
“Growth takes time. Love takes time. But when it comes, it’s worth it. Grateful. Always,” she concluded.
When Anaya was Aryan
Anaya identified as Aryan before transitioning and followed in the footsteps of Sanjay Bangar in taking up cricket. Aryan played for the Mumbai Under-16 and Pondicherry Under-19 trials, and also appeared in trials for the Mumbai Under-23s.
Anaya shared the field with prominent cricketers like Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Anaya previously explained how things were different during her childhood.
“When I was around eight or nine, I snuck into my mother’s room, put on her clothes, looked in the mirror and said I was a girl,” she previously said.
Talking about Sanjay Bangar, the now 53-year-old’s short international career spanned between 2001 and 2004. During this period, he played 12 Tests and 15 ODIs, scoring 470 and 180 runs in both formats. The all-rounder finished with seven wickets across both formats.
The former Railways cricketer played 165 first-class matches, scored 8349 runs and took 300 wickets.
