Shahnaz Kamal - The Pakistani female boxer

Shahnaz Kamal is an exception in the male-dominated sport of boxing especially in a country like Pakistan.

Kamal, formerly a boxer is the only female registered coach with the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF).

"My husband taught me as his student. He showed me how to box. I was a trained boxer. I learned boxing for two years, my husband gave me all of my training," she said.



Kamal is the only international boxing coach and female 3-star national boxer Pakistan has.

"We were the first in Pakistan's history to get females into boxing," Kamal added.

"We started the first [training] camp in Peshawar. It is a matter of pride for Peshawar. After our girls won medals, one was from K-P and one from Multan. We trained them and they received bronze medals at the South Asia games for Pakistan."

Despite the perceptions about women in Pakistan, Kamal’s husband, Syed Kamal Khan is proud of his wife’s accomplishments.

"My own wife boxes and coaches boxing," he said.

"This is a good path. Sport is a good path, it's the best. We are on a positive path, Alhamdullilah (thank God), we are not on a negative path. There is no shame in it, or feeling bad about it. Nor do we care what other people think."

However, the Kamals are disappointed because of the lack of government support for women in sports.



"If I had a say, I would train all girls in boxing for self-defense," Kamal declared.

"Our society deals with a lot of problems concerning women. I am not sure why parents think that girls should not box."

The Kamals believe that young girls should have as many opportunities open to them as boys.

"Our mission makes us happy,” they said.

This article originally appeared on VOAnews