Whoever thought ‘fighting like a girl’ was an insult is definitely in for a rude awakening as more and more female fighters and boxers are taking centre stage and dominating what was widely considered a man’s sport.
Anahit Aroyan, 19, nicknamed ‘Arni’ is part of the new generation of female boxers who are constantly changing the landscape of the sport and paving the way for more young girls to follow in their footsteps.
She is a three-time Armenian champion at amateur level and then went on to become the golden gloves champion in Serbia.
“In the ring I feel like a boy, but outside of it I’m a girl,” said Aroyan.
While she was holidaying in Dubai with her mother, she decided to check out Round10 boxing club in Al Quoz for a sparring session.
The owners of the club were thoroughly impressed by her skills and style, and a simple visit culminated in her getting a full-time position as a trainer.
Aroyan, too, was amazed by the facility and the numerous opportunities the UAE opened up for her.
Despite her lack of command over English, Aroyan spoke to Sport360 about her move to Dubai and how she managed to forge her path into professional boxing after winning her debut fight last month.
“Back in Armenia, there were numerous times when I was sleeping in my boxing club, as I lived really far away. Living in Dubai is a lot more convenient for me and I have met some really talented boxers who have taught me so much and given me a lot of experience,” she said.
Aroyan is currently preparing for her next fight in Mumbai, India, on January 26 and for her training, the teenager prefers sparring with men more than women, as it helps her polish her technique and always teaches her something new.
She considers herself fortunate that her family was always supportive of her aspirations of becoming a boxer and even after she moved here, she found lots of love and support from her coach and colleagues at Round10.
However, she still had to deal with some mildly sexist remarks occasionally from some people who didn’t encourage women’s participation in the sport.
“You know when I was starting out, I heard a lot of people say that boxing is a man’s sport and why is a girl doing, but I never cared about what they were saying. I love boxing and it is my life. In fact, I am proud that I am a female boxer,” added Aroyan.
“It is hard being a boxer as a girl, as you always end up with bruises all over, but I love it. People often ask me if I am doing this for money, but I always tell them that I am doing this for myself and to become the world champion.”
When asked to elaborate further on her challenges, the Armenian simply gave a nonchalant shrug and said: “Whatever obstacles I had were difficult but not impossible to overcome. I don’t really think I had any obstacles or challenges, it was hard but my love for the sport kept me going.”
