‘Wasn’t easy’: Anaya reveals father Sanjay Bangar’s role after gender-affirming surgery | Cricket News – The Times of India

Over time, Anaya said the family gradually came to terms with the transition, going through phases of “confusion, questions, and growth.” What stood out most to Anaya was father Sanjay’s presence during such a crucial moment. “To have my father beside me through one of the most important moments of my life means everything,” Anaya said. Though his support wasn’t immediate, Anaya described it as becoming “real, unconditional, and strong.” Anaya summed up the experience by saying, “Growth takes time. Love takes time. But when it comes, it’s worth everything,” showing how patience played a key role in their bond strengthening.Before the transition, Anaya was known as Aryan and had followed a path in cricket, playing at competitive levels and representing Mumbai in Under-16 cricket and Pondicherry in Under-19 matches, and even appearing in Mumbai’s Under-23 trials.Looking back at the childhood, Anaya shared how it always felt different. “When I was around eight or nine years old, I used to sneak into my mother’s room, wear her clothes, look in the mirror and say I’m a girl,” Anaya had earlier recalled, showing that the journey of self-identity began very early in life.