In a dense and dusty neighborhood in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, eight young girls lined up against a cement wall, touching their hands to their faces in prayer before boxing practice began.

For the past six months, these athletes-in-the-making have been training at the Pak Shaheen Boxing Club in Lyari, a packed Karachi district known more for its internecine gang warfare.

During the week, a dozen girls, aged 8 to 17, go to the club after school to practice their jabs, hooks and uppercuts for hours in the hope of one day bringing a medal home to Pakistan.