(CNN) -- Chingaiz Khan was an unknown quantity when he arrived for a junior weightlifting tournament in South Waziristan nine years ago. 

Chaotic and intensely religious, the Pakistani region is known by locals as "the most dangerous place in the world." 

The 12-year-old Chingaiz, with his short, jet-black hair and smooth, unblemished skin, looked younger than the other boys. But, despite it being his first ever tournament, he was still stronger than everyone else. 

For his father Shams-Ul Wazir, a local college lecturer, the decision to register his son for the tournament paid off handsomely. 

Chingaiz was crowned the junior boys' weightlifting champion, the first step on a journey that would take him into the world of professional sport. 

Except Chingaiz wasn't really his name. 

Chingaiz was actually called Maria Toor Pakay. 

Chingaiz was a girl. 

"I suggested the name of Chingaiz Khan for her since she had always been like a boy," explained Al Wazir in an interview with HBO. "She liked the name very much." 

Girls and boys 

This isn't a story of deception, but rather a tale of necessity. 

Maria Toor Pakay is Pakistan's number one squash player, ranked 49th in the world. She also comes from an ultra conservative region in Pakistan that is home to the Taliban. 

Female participation in any form of public life is strongly discouraged, by both words and deeds. Education, working, sports; anything involving women leaving the house unaccompanied by a male relative was seen as the work of the devil. 

Teen athlete fled Taliban stronghold to pursue dream 
How old was Chingaiz?
What color was his hair?
Did he have a lot of acne?
What was his other name?
What other name was he known by?
Why was he known by another name?
Where was the weightlifting tournament?
When was it?
What was the Pakistani region known as by the locals?
Why?
What was his fathers name?
What did he do for a living?
Why did the tournament pay off handsomely?
Did that open up doors for him in the sport?
Why did suggest Chingaiz Khan as her new name?
Did she like it?
Who was Pakistan's number one squash player?
What was her world rank?
What is her Pakistan region home to?
What is strongly discourage for females there?
12-
12-year-old 
jet-black
jet-black hair
no
smooth, unblemished skin
yes
Maria Toor Pakay
Maria Toor Pakay.
Maria Toor Pakay.
Chingaiz was a girl
Chingaiz was a girl
South Waziristan
South Waziristan
nine years ago
 nine years ago
the most dangerous place in the world.
the most dangerous place in the world.
It is Chaotic and intensely religious
Chaotic and intensely religious
Shams-Ul Wazir
Shams-Ul Wazir
a local college lecturer
 a local college lecturer
Chingaiz was crowned the junior boys' weightlifting champion
Chingaiz was crowned the junior boys' weightlifting champion
yes
the first step on a journey that would take him into the world of professional sport
she had always been like a boy
she had always been like a boy
yes
She liked the name very much
Maria Toor Pakay i
Maria Toor Pakay is Pakistan's number one squash player
49th
 ranked 49th in the world
Taliban
home to the Taliban
Female participation in any form of public life
Female participation in any form of public life is strongly discouraged,