This article is more than 2 years old.

March 2, 2016 This article is more than 2 years old.

Going to a boxing club is an act of bravery for girls in Pakistan, where sexual harassment plagues women’s sports. But a few defiant young women are jumping into the ring anyway.

At a boxing camp in Karachi’s Pak Shaheen Boxing Club, roughly a dozen girls have been learning to fight. All are under the age of 18. Founded by coach Younis Qambrani back in 1992, the club opened to female boxers for the first time last October.

Qambrani told Reuters:

A number of girls were keen on training, but due to social pressures, I had been avoiding the issue. Last year a girl came to me, asking why girls couldn’t train. I was moved when she said, ‘No one teaches us how to defend ourselves.’

Another boxing camp for girls also opened in the area last year, according to Dawn.

Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Arisha, 9, takes instructions from coach Younis Qambrani.

Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Azmeena, 16, warms up.

Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Javeria (L) and Mehek check a selfie after training.

Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Aamna, 11, waits to fight.

Reuters/Akhtar Soomro A friend wraps the hand of a boxer.

Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Fifteen-year-old boxer Mehek training alone.

Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Anum, 17, being trained.

Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Urooj, 15, spits water between rounds in her bout.

Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Students of a madrasa (religious school) gather to watch.