Anaya Bangar reveals her biggest transition milestone as she prepares for vaginoplasty in March backed by father Sanjay Bangar, says “I’ve waited for this moment for five years”

Anaya Bangar, a transwoman cricketer, LGBTQ+ advocate and the daughter of former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar, is set to take a major step in her transition journey. Recently seen on the reality show Rise and Fall, Anaya has consistently used her voice to speak about identity, acceptance and inclusivity in sports. As revealed by The Times of India, she will undergo gender-affirming surgery in March, a milestone that now comes with full emotional and financial support from her family.

While Anaya’s younger brother Atharva has stood firmly by her side from the beginning, acceptance within the family evolved gradually. Over time, her parents Sanjay Bangar and Kashmira Bangar came to fully understand her journey, offering unconditional support as she prepares for the surgery.

In a conversation with The Times of India, Anaya spoke about the upcoming procedure and the guidance she received during this phase of her life. "I will be undergoing gender-affirming surgery (vaginoplasty) in March. Fashion designer Saisha Shinde and actress Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, who have also undergone the procedure, guided me. I'll be having the surgery at the same clinic in Thailand, where I'll need to stay for at least a month. After that to rest for a while. I won't be able to play cricket for at least six months, but I'm glad this is finally happening."

For Anaya, the decision has been years in the making. She shared that the timing of the surgery aligns with both emotional readiness and financial stability. "I've waited for this moment for five years. This is who I am. I never felt aligned with the gender I was born with," she said, underlining how deeply personal the journey has been.

Opening up about the process that led her here, Anaya emphasised that the decision was rooted in careful consideration and professional guidance. "The decision to undergo the gender-affirming surgery came after years of therapy, medical evaluations and deep self-reflection. I went through extensive psychological and medical assessments to ensure I'm ready. This surgery isn't about proving anything to society. It's about finally feeling at home in my body."

The 25-year-old also credited her appearance on the reality show Rise and Fall as a key turning point in her life. She explained how public acceptance and visibility played a role in helping her parents better understand her resolve. "I received immense support from people and was in a better place financially, too. My father saw people taking pictures with me, standing by me and respecting me. Both my parents realised this wasn't a phase. They saw that I was serious about my life and my choices," Anaya said.

That realisation proved transformative for her family. Reiterating her truth, Anaya shared, "This is who I am," adding that this clarity ultimately led her parents to fully stand by her. "I believe that's what led them to come around and offer me full support. My father is bearing the complete expenses of my surgery. At one point, I was completely on my own in the UK, and there is still a lot of stigma around LGBTQ+ people within families. I hope that by speaking out and by my family supporting me, it will help other trans women. It could make these conversations easier in someone else's home. In a country where conversations around gender identity are still difficult within families, my parents' support means everything."

As she prepares for surgery and recovery, Anaya also addressed misconceptions surrounding her advocacy and her stance on sports. She clarified that her intention has never been to seek attention. "No one goes this far for publicity. When I spoke about inclusivity in cricket, it wasn't to gain attention. I don't want to invade women's cricket, if that's what people think. Sport has always been about fairness. My stand is simply that fairness should be evidence-based, not fear-based. Right now, my focus is on healing and living fully. Everything else will follow I want a conversation to begin. It can be considered on a case-by-case basis. If not me, at least someone from the next generation will benefit. That's the aim."

As Anaya steps into this new chapter, her journey stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, self-acceptance and the impact of family support especially in a society where conversations around gender identity are still evolving.