Sports should not be dragged into politics: Maria Toorpakai to critics

KARACHI: Pakistan's decorated female squash player, Maria Toorpakai, on Friday responded to the ones vilifying her lately, saying that sports should not be dragged into politics.

Speaking to newsmen here, Toorpakai said people casting aspersions on her make no difference to her.

"We are soldiers of sports having our own uniform, our own style," she said, adding that she does not care about politics.

Toorpakai, who happens to be former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Aisha Gulalai's younger sister, came under bitter verbal attacks by several PTI leaders following Gulalai's allegations against PTI chief Imran Khan.

The vilification campaign against Toorpakai had also prompted Khan to ask his supporters not to target the decorated squash player.

Commenting further, she welcomed the PTI chairman's tweet asking his supporters to refrain from targeting her.

"I do not mind even if someone abuses me; all heroes including Imran Khan are my ideals," she said.