Anaya Bangar, daughter of ex-India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, expressed gratitude towards her father following a successful gender-affirming surgery in Thailand. Anaya shared on Instagram that her father’s unwavering support was pivotal during the surgery and recovery process in Bangkok, describing it as a significant milestone in her self-discovery journey. She acknowledged the challenges faced by her family in accepting and understanding her transition, emphasizing the importance of her father’s enduring support.
The surgery, which Bangar personally funded, symbolized his backing of his daughter’s choices. Formerly known as Aryan, Anaya transitioned publicly in 2023 through Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and documented parts of her journey on social media. Despite the surgery signifying a crucial step in her female identity, Anaya encounters obstacles in her cricket involvement due to regulations barring transgender women who underwent male puberty from participating in elite women’s domestic cricket.
