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Born Fighter
**WINNER TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR 2021**
**SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020**
'I was captivated by this book from start to finish, I couldn't put it down. A very real and relatable story that will have you weeping, smiling and cheering along' Christine Ohuruogo
Ruqsana Begum's account of how she rose to become a Muay Thai world champion is only a small part of why her story is such an inspirational one for anyone who has ever followed their dream.
Ever since she went to school in Bethnal Green, part of a large local Bangladeshi community, Ruqsana Begum stood apart from her friends because she was so keen on sport. At home, she wore the clothes her mother wanted her to wear and behaved like a dutiful Muslim daughter, but at heart she wanted something different. And when she went to college and saw an advert for a Muay Thai club, she knew what that would be. But she also knew that her parents would never allow her to fight - even if they could have afforded the costs. So she fought in secret, and soon discovered that she was a natural. But when her parents arranged her marriage, her new world collapsed and she found herself unable to cope, until she broke free again, and worked her way to the top.
Ruqsana's story is a tale of empowerment that will inspire anyone who has ever had to battle against the odds and against all the opposition to achieve their goal.
**SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020**
'I was captivated by this book from start to finish, I couldn't put it down. A very real and relatable story that will have you weeping, smiling and cheering along' Christine Ohuruogo
Ruqsana Begum's account of how she rose to become a Muay Thai world champion is only a small part of why her story is such an inspirational one for anyone who has ever followed their dream.
Ever since she went to school in Bethnal Green, part of a large local Bangladeshi community, Ruqsana Begum stood apart from her friends because she was so keen on sport. At home, she wore the clothes her mother wanted her to wear and behaved like a dutiful Muslim daughter, but at heart she wanted something different. And when she went to college and saw an advert for a Muay Thai club, she knew what that would be. But she also knew that her parents would never allow her to fight - even if they could have afforded the costs. So she fought in secret, and soon discovered that she was a natural. But when her parents arranged her marriage, her new world collapsed and she found herself unable to cope, until she broke free again, and worked her way to the top.
Ruqsana's story is a tale of empowerment that will inspire anyone who has ever had to battle against the odds and against all the opposition to achieve their goal.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
Audible Audio
Published July 9, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 26, 2020
This is an inspiring read, written with a big heart, very sad at times but there's also so much infectious passion to be found in each page. There is a lot to take away from this memoir - it's hard to stand up for yourself, even more so if you are tied down by cultural/religious imperatives and worse even if you are a girl/woman. Having said that, Begum is a role model for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
September 21, 2020
Book 107 of 2020 was ‘Born Fighter’ by Ruqsana Begum, a British boxer and kickboxing champion. I don’t normally go for celebrity bios, especially sporting ones, but this was an engrossing read. It has a really satisfying structure, and Begum’s determination to overcome the obstacles life puts in her way is quite something. She also has a lot to say about what it means to be a Muslim woman in modern Britain, and the importance of her faith shines through. The writing could be better at times, but this doesn’t stop this being an engaging and inspiring read.
October 2, 2020
This is a really well written book that is hard to put down and it takes you on a journey of the author where you don't just see Ruqsana's success but the struggles she faced behind it all, in the book we read about her fights and I don't mean the ones in the ring where she bouted for her world championship title BUT her battle with many things in life.
Culturally; fighting the stereotypes of being an Asian Muslim woman in this day and age, something most people, especially us men, tend to take for granted. Spiritually; as a Muslim woman having to find faith to help her in her journey, not just as a fighter but as a human being playing many roles. Emotionally; don't get me started but read it for yourself andf find out. Physically; as an athlete I'm sure you can all guess.
This is why Born Fighter is an inspiring story, not just for a fighter in the ring but a fighter in all battles that comes with life. Read it and see it for yourself, domn't take my word for it.
Culturally; fighting the stereotypes of being an Asian Muslim woman in this day and age, something most people, especially us men, tend to take for granted. Spiritually; as a Muslim woman having to find faith to help her in her journey, not just as a fighter but as a human being playing many roles. Emotionally; don't get me started but read it for yourself andf find out. Physically; as an athlete I'm sure you can all guess.
This is why Born Fighter is an inspiring story, not just for a fighter in the ring but a fighter in all battles that comes with life. Read it and see it for yourself, domn't take my word for it.
May 13, 2021
Born Fighter is a true story told by the athlete herself: Ruqsana Begum! She grew up torn between two very different worlds: her family’s values and religion against her passion for Muay Thai. The book goes on to reveal many of her struggles in life as well as the successes! Ruqsana does become a world champion in Muay Thai but also becomes a profound role model for people from all walks of life. She spreads the message that anyone can fight regardless of their background, race, gender or religion. This story inspires anyone and everyone to chase and achieve their dreams!
This was such an incredible read! I am someone who had no particular interest in the subject matter (boxing, Thai boxing) before picking up the book but found it very interesting and quite a ‘page turner’. There are so many important subjects and issues that are brought up throughout the course of the book’s pages. Examples of these include: religion, ME, arranged marriage, family relationships, self worth and much much more! The structure of this book really provoked a sense of unpredictability which is quite unusual for the genre! This was greatly appreciated! I loved that there is a real focus on ‘failure’ and the concept of never giving up. I thought that the ending was very powerful as it didn’t end on a massive success as sports memoirs often do! This had a very humbling effect which clarified the author’s honesty and selfless need to encourage and inspire others.
The only negative for me was that at the beginning of the book everything is conveyed in great detail with a lot of focus on her religion and family. However, as the book progresses great amount of detail is not mentioned and we get transported from event to event quite rapidly.
Nevertheless there is hardly a reason to avoid this book and I would definitely recommend it! This has the potential to motivate anyone to follow their dreams and overcome hardship in the most real and honest way.
This was such an incredible read! I am someone who had no particular interest in the subject matter (boxing, Thai boxing) before picking up the book but found it very interesting and quite a ‘page turner’. There are so many important subjects and issues that are brought up throughout the course of the book’s pages. Examples of these include: religion, ME, arranged marriage, family relationships, self worth and much much more! The structure of this book really provoked a sense of unpredictability which is quite unusual for the genre! This was greatly appreciated! I loved that there is a real focus on ‘failure’ and the concept of never giving up. I thought that the ending was very powerful as it didn’t end on a massive success as sports memoirs often do! This had a very humbling effect which clarified the author’s honesty and selfless need to encourage and inspire others.
The only negative for me was that at the beginning of the book everything is conveyed in great detail with a lot of focus on her religion and family. However, as the book progresses great amount of detail is not mentioned and we get transported from event to event quite rapidly.
Nevertheless there is hardly a reason to avoid this book and I would definitely recommend it! This has the potential to motivate anyone to follow their dreams and overcome hardship in the most real and honest way.
March 19, 2021
This was a great read capturing Ruqsana’s growth through life and through the sport of Muay Thai. As a female Muslim, under considerable pressure to conform to family and cultural norms hers was a difficult path. The book captures many of the feelings surrounding training and competing in ‘The art of eight limbs’. Ultimately hers is a beautiful story of self-doubt, discovery, challenge, setback, growth and success. A very real tale which describes the highs and lows of being a fighter in a sport where the knocks are hard and money is scarce.
Well done Ruqsana. Great story well told.
Well done Ruqsana. Great story well told.
October 28, 2021
Inspiring story and the nerves and anxieties she mentioned is very relatable to everyone. Good reminder to me that hard times comes to make us stronger as long as we keep the faith and keep pushing on we will always see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just need to put your head down and keep working.
September 8, 2021
Loved everything about this book. Found the story Fascinating… 1st generation Bengali immigrant growing up in poverty in London, managing her faith and a sport that didn’t appear congruent with it. Her drive against adversity is something else. Bravo!
September 14, 2022
Inspirational novel on so many levels, you don’t have to be into the world of fighting to enjoy this book and the story of its author. Coming of age, religion, culture, health and well-being are all covered beautifully.
March 31, 2024
I don't often read sports books but was inspired by this one. The story of how a young woman becomes a high achieving sportswoman in a male dominated environment against the challenges of not just male domination but also cultural restrictions and expectations.
February 17, 2023
A really inspiring sporting story. My favourite book of all time.
September 16, 2024
Very inspirational and emotional!
December 29, 2020
Incredible, inspiring story of strength and resilience.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews