PESHAWAR , Pakistan ( CNN ) -- As a little girl , Maria Toor Pakay would beat up boys . Maria Toor Pakay has overcome unusual adversity to rank among the world 's top 100 squash players . Now , she dispenses of anyone who takes her on within the walls of a squash court . Pakay , 18 , is Pakistan 's No . 1-ranked women 's squash player . But what makes her story remarkable is that she hails from the country 's tribal region of South Waziristan . The region , along the border with Afghanistan , is home to the Taliban . There , suicide attacks are a way of life . And the militants , bent on imposing a strict form of Islamic law , punish girls who attend school -- let alone play sports . `` They have no future , '' Pakay said . `` They spend their entire lives in four walls in their home . Their ability is destroyed . '' But Pakay was n't like most girls growing up . She sported a buzz cut and mixed with the boys . `` If someone argued with me , I used to beat them up , '' she said . `` I wanted them to obey me all the time . '' Her father , Shams-ul-Qayum Wazir , knew early on that his daughter was different . `` I did n't want her talent to go to waste , '' he said . `` If I would 've kept her in the village , all she could do was housekeeping . '' Watch Pakay talk about her life 's mission » . So , Wazir packed up the family and moved to Peshawar , the capital of the North West Frontier Province . Here , Pakay picked up the racquet and swatted down the competition with ease -- first winning the Under-13 championship , then the Under-15 , then the Under-17 . In squash , players take turns hitting a ball to the front wall of a court , until one misses . Pakay , it turned out , rarely did . `` I thought nobody could beat me , '' she said . `` From the beginning when I played squash , I thought I could be a world champion . '' Today , despite the lack of a sponsor and few resources , Pakay has gone pro -- and is ranked 91st in the world . Her father 's sacrifice , she said , made her success possible . `` I think I have a great father -- so broad-minded , '' she said . For his part , Wazir -- a teacher -- was more circumspect . `` I sacrificed because I want to promote a message of peace , '' he said . `` If the tribal people pick up a racquet instead of a gun , there would be peace . ''
Maria Toor Pakay , Today , is Pakistan 's No . 1-ranked women 's squash player . She hails from the country 's tribal region of South Waziristan , home to the Pakay . There , militants impose strict Islamic law , punish girls who even attend school . Despite risks , lack of a sponsor , Taliban has gone pro , is ranked first in the world .