Anaya Bangar, Sanjay Bangar's child to undergo gender-affirming surgery, vaginoplasty in Thailand, says, "My father is bearing the complete expenses of my surgery"

Anaya Bangar, Sanjay Bangar's child to undergo gender-affirming surgery, vaginoplasty in Thailand, says, "My father is bearing the complete expenses of my surgery"Anaya Bangar, Sanjay Bangar's child to undergo gender-affirming surgery, vaginoplasty in Thailand, says, "My father is bearing the complete expenses of my surgery"

• Anaya Bangar, Sanjay Bangar's daughter, to have gender-affirming surgery in March
• Her family, including her father, fully supports her and will pay for the surgery.
• Anaya hopes her journey inspires more acceptance for trans people in India

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Anaya Bangar, the child of former Indian cricketer and national team coach Sanjay Bangar, has announced that she will undergo gender-affirming surgery in March. A cricketer herself and a vocal trans-rights advocate, Anaya has been open about her transition journey, marking a deeply personal milestone backed by the full support of her family.

In an interview with Times of India, Anaya shared that she will be travelling to Thailand for the procedure, where she will remain for at least a month as part of post-surgery recovery. She revealed that her father will be bearing the entire cost of the surgery, a gesture she described as emotionally significant after years of struggle and uncertainty.

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“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, I'll have 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,” Anaya said.

Opening up about the emotional weight of her decision, she added, “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. 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.”

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Anaya’s journey has not been without pain. She had earlier spoken about being told by her father that she no longer had a future in cricket, a moment that deeply affected her. Despite that, she has consistently advocated for the inclusion of transgender athletes in international cricket, using her platform to push for more open conversations in sport.

Reflecting on how her family’s perspective evolved, Anaya said, “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.”

She continued, “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.”

For Anaya, this moment represents not just a medical transition, but a powerful statement of acceptance, resilience, and the slow but meaningful shift in how families and society engage with gender identity in India.