Allyson Felix qualifies for her fifth Olympic games. Without any doubt, she is one of the most renowned athletes in the United States track and field. With her selection in the Olympic Games for the fifth time, she might become the most decorated track and field athlete in the history of the Olympic Games. She is also inspiring and influencing all the mothers as she is the first athlete as a mother to compete in the Olympics.

Allyson is the only female track and field athlete to win six Olympic Gold Medals. The 35-year-old has been qualified for the women's 400m in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She secured the second position by finishing the 400-meters in 50.02 seconds at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon. Her participation in the 400 meters is confirmed but she may run in 4*400 for both women and mixed gender. Tomorrow, the qualifying trial of 200 meters will start and she will be participating in that as well.

Read also: Women In Sports: Female Athletes And Motherhood

She has credited her daughter for being the source of motivation during running. Allyson also added that more than qualified in the Olympics teaching her daughter the lesson was more important for her.

"I just wanted to really show her, no matter what, that you do things with character, integrity, and you don't give up," Felix said. "And to me, whether that was winning, losing, no matter the outcome, I wanted to stay consistent with that. Having her as motivation through these past couple of years has just given me a whole new drive."

Her Success in the Olympics

• Tokyo Olympics 2020 is her fifth consecutive Olympics. She started off with the Olympics at the age of 18 in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens where she won the silver medal.
• Once again in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she won the silver medal for the 200m medal and gold medal for the 4*400m relay.
• Her performances in the Olympics have been always fascinating. In the 2012 London Olympic Games, she won the gold medal for all forms except the 100 meters.
• The last Olympics she participated in was the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games where she won the silver medal for the 400 and gold medal in both 4*100 m relay.

At the present time, she has won the most number of Olympic medals in the United States track and field history. Also if she successfully wins both the medals in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, then she will be leaving Carl Lewis behind and will become the most decorated American in the history of track and field.

World Athletics has earlier announced that athletes should wear shoes with a uniform 20-millimeter sole thickness limit for all events. This rule will come into action on November 1st, 2024, marking a notable change in the actions of the athletes.

This rule has been induced to welcome fairness in the game. However, this has sparked controversies. While many athletes have accepted it, some are still in dilemmas about the rule.

Well, let's look at how the rule will impact the performance. However, for now, let's look at the present thickness.

Current Shoe Sole Thickness Rules in Athletics

Presently, there is no such uniformity of sole thickness. Thickness normally varies according to the events in which the athletes participate.

Suppose, in events where an athlete will have run more than 800 meters, shoes are allowed to have a sole up to 25 mm. However, when it comes to shorter distances, the maximum thickness has been limited to 20 mm.

For field events, including the high jump, athletes have a 20mm limit. But for the triple jump, athletes are allowed to wear shoes with soles up to 25mm.

These rules were implemented in January 2022, based on the technological advancements in shoes. However, from 1st November this year, there will be no distinction in sole thickness in different events.

Point to be noted: the rules for road events like marathons and race walks, which permit a 40mm sole thickness, will remain unchanged.

Why is World Athletics enforcing a 20mm sole limit?

The main motto of World Athletics is to ensure fairness. As a result of this, the federation has decided to apply the rule of a uniform 20mm limit to the sole.

In recent years, advances in shoe technology—particularly with thicker soles and carbon fiber plates—have sparked debates about whether these shoes offer athletes some unfair advantage.

Thus, World Athletics created its own Working Group on Athletic Shoes in 2020. The main task of this group is to analyze the impact of shoe technology on performance. They also draft regulations, ensuring that athletes are focusing more on skills and not technology.

The new rule was announced well in advance to give shoe manufacturers ample time to adapt their designs.

Athletes' Reactions to the 20mm Rule Change

Top athletes have had mixed reactions to the upcoming rule. Joshua Cheptegei, the Olympic and World Champion in the 10,000 meters, supports the change, describing it as "for the benefit of the sport."

He added that the thinner soles won’t necessarily lead to slower times, emphasizing that performance is often influenced by an athlete's mindset. Cheptegei also noted that recent shoe technology has aided recovery between training sessions, which could be impacted by the new regulations.

Meanwhile, Muktar Edris, a former two-time 5,000m World Champion, said that a thicker sole helps the athletes, providing them extra "energy" and "push." A reduced sole may hamper a regular action.

The Controversy Surrounding Shoe Technology

The controversy regarding shoe technology is nothing new. Before 2022, the track spikes had soles with thicknesses up to 30 mm.

During the Tokyo Olympics, legendary sprinter Usain Bolt brought this issue to the public, citing the unfair advantage an athlete may receive due to thicker boots. Not only that, but with the increased use of technologically advanced shoes, world records that looked unbreakable are at stake.

Karsten Warholm, the one who holds the World Record in 400m hurdles, also expressed his concern. After winning the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, he questioned the boots of the runner-up, Rai Benjamin.

Warholm made serious claims that Benjamin used thicker Nike soles that provided the later an unfair advantage. Warholm's remarks not only concerned the federation but drew attention to the fine line between technological innovation and "technological doping."

The Impact of Shoe Technology on Performance

Eliud Kipchoge, the first athlete who broke the two-hour marathon barrier in 2019, sparked controversies at his time as well. He used the Nike Alphafly, which featured thick soles and carbon plates. However, the nature of the event didn't let that record count. 

Later, World Athletics introduced a rule. It required the new shoes to be in the open market for at least four months prior to the competition. This rule also aspired to thwart athletes with exclusive shoe deals from gaining an unfair advantage.

Will the 20mm sole limit affect athlete performance?

It is not exactly negative, but the athletes will solely depend on their physical abilities and techniques. Yes, a few athletes do consider this to hurt their performance, but just like Cheptegei mentioned, mental resilience and training will play a crucial role in breaking records or achieving personal bests (PB).

Well, a reduced cushion in the sole will demand more energy from the athlete. Thus, athletes need to adjust their training regimes to adapt to the new rules.

World Athletics had mentioned clearly that they want to promote uniformity. They want the athletes to rely on their power and skills, not some technology beneath their feet, that will change and evolve with time. 

However, with shoe manufacturers rushing to adapt their designs, the real test will come when athletes compete under the new regulations in 2024.

The Paris Olympics 2024 is going to start from July 26, all the countries of the world including India are busy in preparations for these games. The last few Olympic events have seen a steady increase in the number of Indian athletes. This time too, India is already busy in preparations for its Paris 2024 mission.

Read Also: Vinesh Phogat wins Paris Olympics Quota in Women's 50kg category

India won maximum number of medals in Tokyo

Earlier a total of 124 players from India had participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This was by far the largest contingent of Indian players who had participated in the Olympic Games. This team of India also won the maximum number of medals in the Games. It was in this Olympics itself that Neeraj Chopra created history by winning a historic gold medal in the men's javelin throw event.

Also Read: Looking back at India's 7 medals at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Bhowneesh Mendiratta couldn't make it to the final team

This time many new athletes are getting a chance in the Paris Olympics 2024. Trap shooter Bhowneesh Mendiratta secured India's first Paris 2024 quota at the 2022 ISSF World Championships. But Bhowneesh could not make it to the final team after the national trials. After this, Prithviraj Tondaiman was given a quota in the men's trap event.

Shooters secure quotas in every category 

Notably, for the first time, Indian shooters have secured quotas in every Olympic shooting category. Earlier, 15 shooters from India had participated in Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Also Read: India at Olympics: India's medals at the Olympics by sports

Paris 2024 flagbearer

Famous badminton star PV Sindhu will lead the Indian contingent along with famous table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal during the opening ceremony of the upcoming Paris 2024. However, no name has been announced yet for the closing ceremony, which is expected to be announced later. 

There are 82 quota places from India so far have confirmed for the Paris 2024. Here is the list of players who have qualified for the Games.

Indian athletes who qualified for Paris Olympics 2024

In the realm of Indian sporting history, the Tokyo Olympics 2020 will forever be marked as a unforgettable moment. With a remarkable tally of seven medals, India shattered records and expectations as this was country's best medal haul ever at the Olympics. Some sections of the sporting fraternity were disappointed that India’s medal total did not touch double figures, but the fact is that Tokyo Games saw a stupendous show by the Indian athletes at the highest level. 

Also Read: India at Olympics: India's medals at the Olympics by sports

Since the Paris Olympics 2024 are about to start in a few months (July 26), let's relive some old memories of Tokyo Olympics 2020. 

India's 7 medals at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Neeraj Chopra | Gold

Neeraj Chopra etched his name in history books by clinching India's first-ever Olympic gold in track and field. Neeraj started with a throw of 87.03m and stunned the world by throwing 87.58 meters in his second attempt in the final of the javelin throw event of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. No one came close to the mark set by Neeraj, including the likes of Germany’s Johannes Vetter and Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan. This is India's first Olympic medal in athletics in more than 100 years. Neeraj is also the second Indian player to win an individual gold medal. Earlier, shooter Abhinav Bindra had won the gold medal in men's 10-meter air rifle at the Beijing Olympics 2008.

Also Read: 'I will try to breach the 90m mark before Paris Olympics': Neeraj Chopra aims to retain his Olympic gold in Paris

Mirabai Chanu | Silver

Manipur's Mirabai Chanu registered India's name in the medal tally Tokyo Olympics 2020. She ended a 21-year medal drought in weightlifting by winning a silver medal in the 49 kg category during her four successful attempts across the competition. This 29-year-old player removed the disappointment she faced in the Rio Olympics (2016) by lifting a total weight of 202 kg. Mirabai is also a former world champion and holds the world record in the clean and jerk event in the 49kg category.

Ravi Dahiya | Silver

Ravi Kumar Dahiya, born in Nahari village of Sonepat district of Haryana, proved his strength and technique by winning the silver medal in men's 57 kg freestyle wrestling. He is the only second Indian wrestler, after Sushil Kumar, to win an Olympic silver medal. Dahiya secured his Olympic berth by winning the bronze medal at the 2019 World Championship and then won the Asian Championship in Delhi in 2020 and defended the title in Almaty this year.

PV Sindhu | Bronze

PV Sindhu was already considered a strong medal contender for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and she did not disappoint anyone by winning the bronze medal. This 28-year-old player had earlier won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is the only woman from the country to win multiple medals in the Olympics. Her performance in the Tokyo Games can be gauged from the fact that she had not lost a single game before losing two games against Tai Tzu Ying. The Hyderabadi shuttler made her mark at the international level in 2014 after winning bronze medals at the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships. 

Also Read: From Abhinav Brinda to PV Sindhu: Every First for India at Olympics

Lovlina Borgohain | Bronze

Lovlina Borgohain of Assam created history by winning a bronze medal in her first Olympics. She is the third Indian to win an Olympic medal in boxing after Vijender Singh (2008) and MC Mary Kom (2012). Before going on a 52-day tour of Europe to prepare for the Olympics, she got infected with Covid 19 but she made a spectacular comeback and defeated former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the 69 kg category. The 26-year-old signed off with a bronze medal after a 0-5 loss to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli.

Bajrang Punia | Bronze

Before these games, Bajrang Punia was also considered the biggest contender for the gold medal in the Tokyo Games. After losing in the semi-finals, he could not fulfill his dream of gold medal due to multiple injuries. Bajrang suffered a knee injury in Russia in a tournament and then also pulled his left hamstring. Despite this, he brought glory to the country by winning the bronze medal. Bajrang beat Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0 in the 65kg bronze medal bout. With his bronze, Indian wrestlers matched their best performance at the Tokyo Olympics.

Also Read: $50000 per Gold medal winner in Athletics at Paris Olympics

Indian Men's Hockey Team | Bronze

The Indian Men's Hockey Team ended a 41-year drought in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning the bronze medal. Although this medal was not gold, it was enough to make hockey popular again in the country. After losing badly by 1-7 against Australia in the second match of the group stage, the team made a great comeback under the leadership of Manpreet Singh. After defeating Belgium in the semi-finals, the team defeated Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal play-off. This was India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two before this were won in the 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games.

Women in sports is a special series by SportzPoint to honour all of those women who showed the world that you can achieve anything. This is the third episode of the series. Check the first and second episodes also.

All of these women have sacrificed many things to conquer the world. They have fought against gender barriers, inequalities and discrimination. Moreover, the man-minded world was very sacred to recognize and salute the spirits of those women.

Women just can not play after being a mother- this myth has always been there in the industry. However, when you are passionate about the game, motherhood just makes them stronger and stronger. In this episode, we will talk about those women who just became better after being a mother.

Female Athletes and Motherhood

If you ask any woman, they would say that being a mother is the most beautiful moment in their life. But, that does not mean that they can not juggle between being a mother and a professional athlete. However, it is their body that goes under enormous pressure while being pregnant and post-pregnancy as well. Though studies show now that female athletes are having longer sporting careers than men now.

So, if the world supports more moms to be back in their sporting arena, it will become more revolutionary in the sports world. Here's is the top 7 female athlete who just rocked the sports world being a mom-

#1 Serena Williams (USA, Tennis)

Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player of the open era if we talk about achievements. She has won everything there could be won on the tennis court. The 23 Singles Grand Slam Winner, was eight weeks pregnant when she won the Australian Open in 2017.

She revealed her pregnancy with a baby bump post on Snapchat. Serena also confirmed that she got to know about her pregnancy only a few days before the matches. This incident challenged the thoughts of women not being strong enough for sports.

Serena never thought of ending her illustrated career by just being a mother. However, she challenged herself and proved everyone wrong. She proved that being a mother only gives you more strength.

However, Serena had some serious complications while childbirth but managed to be back on the court to get to the magical 24th Grand Slam Title. The magic is that Serena played 4 Grand Slam Finals within 10 months of her postpartum.

Read Also: Women In Sports: 15 Iconic Images In Women Sport

#2 Skylar Diggins-Smith (USA, Basketball)

WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith is a four-time WNBA All-Star. Skylar is one of the most illustrated players in the history of Women's Basketball.

Skylar missed the 2019 season due to pregnancy. But, she pulled off something great before resting the season out. During the 2018 season, she was already pregnant. Although she managed to be the third player in WNBA history to average at least 17 points and six assists per game.

She did not tell her pregnancy news to anybody as she wanted to continue with the season. After resting for six months following her postpartum, she came back with a bang. Skylar scored a team-high 19 points for the U.S. women's national team. Not only that she also grabbed the award for the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week Award also.

So, her fights prove how women in sports should dedicate themselves just to make it more equal and even for the next generation.

#3 Mary Kom (Boxing, India)

India is a very hard place to be a mother and professional athlete. Its social imbalance and inequality in pay structure make it even harder financially to sustain a career being a mother.

However, the mother of three children and a record sixth-time World Champion boxer proved everyone wrong with her dedication and fighting spirit. Kom has won medals in one of the first seven World Championships. She is also the only boxer to win eight World Championship medals.

Mary Kom became a mother to twin boys in 2007. In 2013, she became a mother for the third time. But she kept on going through every tough situation to keep her boxing career going.

Mary Kom went on to win her Olympic medal in 2012 after becoming a mother. She won a bronze in the 51kg freestyle category. Kom is regarded as the "Magnificent Mary" due to her passion, fight and dedication.

The Indian boxer bowed out to Ingrit Valencia in the pre-quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Read Also: Women In Sports: Female Firsts In Every Sport

#4 Allyson Felix (USA, Track & Field)

The only female track and field athlete to win six Olympic Gold Medals did not have it easy in her life. Allyson Felix is the 2012 Olympic gold medal winner and a three-time world champion.

The start athlete from America had a tough time during her pregnancy. Felix went through preeclampsia and an emergency C-section to deliver her daughter. In November 2018 she was blessed with her baby girl.

In her tough times, Felix accused Nike that they wanted her back on track as soon as possible post-pregnancy. The rumour was also that Nike asked for a guarantee from Felix that her performance would not go down. However, Nike declined those rumours.

Felix is currently aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as it would be her fifth consecutive Olympics.

"Everyone sees the glory moments, but they don't see what happens behind the scenes."

#5 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica, Track & Field)

Shelly is another mom-athlete who became a mother in #DreamMaternity year in 2019. The mom-athlete from Jamaica has 6 Olympic medals including 2 Gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

She is always been fast. But, she is been inspirational to millions of women out there as well. After having her appendix removed in April 2009, Fraser became World 100m champion.

The "pocket-rocket" from Jamaica kept running fast even after childbirth. She became the world 100m champion only after two years of postpartum.

Shelly now calls herself the #mommyrocket.

#6 Nia Ali (USA, Track & Field)

Nia Ali is another mom-athlete who did great after becoming a mother. In 2015 to Nia gave birth to her son Titus. Post that she came back and won the gold medal in World Championship within a year.

Nia continued her success after becoming a mother. She went on to win the silver medal at the 2016 Olympics for the 100-meter hurdles.

The victory lap with her son after winning the Gold medal at the 2016 world championship is a moment to saviour for everyone who supports women in sports.

#7 Kara Goucher (USA, Track & Filed)

Kara Goucher, an American long-distance runner is always been vocal about raising financial security for mom-athletes.

While she was pregnant with her son, in 2010, Goucher worked to be a public figure for Nike. However, as he had given birth to her child, Nike refused to pay her anymore leading to her financial crisis.

Nike said, 'We don't pay you to tell your story. We pay you to run, and you're not running. You have to get back into racing.' - According to Goucher.

She ran in the Boston Marathon while her son was getting operated on his neck in the hospital. Also, as she was hurried back into running, she suffered hip pain that will stay with her forever.

The women in sports are still fighting for their existence. Gender barriers, financial crisis and many other issues wrapped them around. We hope our series reaches the ones who want to make their dream true as a woman or female athlete.

Women in Sports is a special series by SportzPoint to honour all of those women who showed the world that you can achieve anything. This is the third episode of the series. Check the first and second episodes also.

All of these women have sacrificed many things to conquer the world. They have fought against gender barriers, inequalities and discrimination. Moreover, the man-minded world was very sacred to recognize and salute the spirits of those women.

Women just can not play after being a mother- this myth has always been there in the industry. However, when you are passionate about the game, motherhood just makes them stronger and stronger. In this episode, we will talk about those women who just became better after being a mother.

Female Athletes and Motherhood

If you ask any woman, they would say that being a mother is the most beautiful moment in their life. But, that does not mean that they can not juggle between being a mother and a professional athlete. However, it is their body that goes under enormous pressure while being pregnant and post-pregnancy as well. Studies show now that female athletes have longer sporting careers than men.

So, if the world supports more moms to be back in their sporting arena, it will become more revolutionary in the sports world. Here are the top 8 female athletes who just rocked the sports world being a mom-

#1 Serena Williams (USA, Tennis)

Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player of the Open era if we talk about achievements. She has won everything that could be won on the tennis court. The 23 Singles Grand Slam Winner, was eight weeks pregnant when she won the Australian Open in 2017.

She revealed her pregnancy with a baby bump post on Snapchat. Serena also confirmed that she got to know about her pregnancy only a few days before the matches. This incident challenged the thoughts of women not being strong enough for sports.

Serena never thought of ending her illustrated career by just being a mother. However, she challenged herself and proved everyone wrong. She proved that being a mother only gives you more strength.

However, Serena had some serious complications during childbirth but managed to get back on the court to get to the magical 24th Grand Slam Title. The magic is that Serena played 4 Grand Slam Finals within 10 months of her postpartum.

Read Also: Women In Sports: 15 Iconic Images In Women Sport

#2 Skylar Diggins-Smith (USA, Basketball)

WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith is a four-time WNBA All-Star. Skylar is one of the most illustrated players in the history of Women's Basketball.

Skylar missed the 2019 season due to pregnancy. But, she pulled off something great before resting the season out. During the 2018 season, she was already pregnant. Although she managed to be the third player in WNBA history to average at least 17 points and six assists per game.

She did not tell her pregnancy news to anybody as she wanted to continue with the season. After resting for six months following her postpartum, she came back with a bang. Skylar scored a team-high 19 points for the U.S. women's national team. Not only that she also grabbed the award for the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week Award also.

So, her fights prove how women in sports should dedicate themselves just to make it more equal and even for the next generation.

#3 Mary Kom (Boxing, India)

India is a very hard place to be a mother and professional athlete. Its social imbalance and inequality in pay structure make it even harder financially to sustain a career being a mother.

However, the mother of three children and a record sixth-time World Champion boxer proved everyone wrong with her dedication and fighting spirit. Kom has won medals in one of the first seven World Championships. She is also the only boxer to win eight World Championship medals.

Mary Kom became a mother to twin boys in 2007. In 2013, she became a mother for the third time. But she kept on going through every tough situation to keep her boxing career going.

Mary Kom went on to win her Olympic medal in 2012 after becoming a mother. She won a bronze in the 51kg freestyle category. Kom is regarded as the "Magnificent Mary" due to her passion, fight and dedication.

The Indian boxer bowed out to Ingrit Valencia in the pre-quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Read Also: Women In Sports: Female Firsts In Every Sport

#4 Allyson Felix (USA, Track & Field)

The only female track and field athlete to win six Olympic Gold Medals did not have it easy in her life. Allyson Felix is the 2012 Olympic gold medal winner and a three-time world champion.

The star athlete from America had a tough time during her pregnancy. Felix went through preeclampsia and an emergency C-section to deliver her daughter. In November 2018 she was blessed with her baby girl.

In her tough times, Felix accused Nike that they wanted her back on track as soon as possible post-pregnancy. The rumour was also that Nike asked for a guarantee from Felix that her performance would not go down. However, Nike declined those rumours.

Felix is currently aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as it would be her fifth consecutive Olympics.

"Everyone sees the glory moments, but they don't see what happens behind the scenes."

#5 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica, Track & Field)

Shelly is another mom-athlete who became a mother in #DreamMaternity year in 2019. The mom-athlete from Jamaica has 6 Olympic medals including 2 Gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

She has always been fast. But, she is been inspirational to millions of women out there as well. After having her appendix removed in April 2009, Fraser became World 100m champion.

The "pocket rocket" from Jamaica kept running fast even after childbirth. She became the world 100m champion only after two years of postpartum.

Shelly now calls herself the #mommyrocket.

#6 Nia Ali (USA, Track & Field)

Nia Ali is another mom-athlete who did great after becoming a mother. In 2015 to Nia gave birth to her son Titus. Post that she came back and won the gold medal in the World Championship within a year.

Nia continued her success after becoming a mother. She went on to win the silver medal at the 2016 Olympics for the 100-meter hurdles.

The victory lap with her son after winning the Gold medal at the 2016 world championship is a moment to saviour for everyone who supports women in sports.

#7 Kara Goucher (USA, Track & Field)

Kara Goucher, an American long-distance runner is always been vocal about raising financial security for mom-athletes.

While she was pregnant with her son, in 2010, Goucher worked to be a public figure for Nike. However, as he had given birth to her child, Nike refused to pay her anymore leading to her financial crisis.

Nike said, 'We don't pay you to tell your story. We pay you to run, and you're not running. You have to get back into racing.' According to Goucher, she ran in the Boston Marathon while her son was getting operated on his neck in the hospital. Also, as she was hurried back into running, she suffered hip pain that will stay with her forever.

The women in sports are still fighting for their existence. Gender barriers, financial crises and many other issues wrapped them around. We hope our series reaches the ones who want to make their dream true as a woman or female athlete.

#8 Bismah Maroof (Pakistan, Cricket)

Bismah Maroof broke all the barriers in cricket when the former Pakistan captain joined the National team in 2021 with her daughter in her lap. In April 2021, she took a break from cricket due to pregnancy. But, she rejoined the team in December of 2021 right after the birth of her child. Not only that, she went to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2022 as the captain of the Pakistan captain with her daughter in her arms. That picture won the hearts of many while disqualified many as well. 

But, Maroof kept battling her fight on and off the field and went on to say, "Kill me if you want, but, I want to play cricket".

Note: The article was first written in 2022 and then was updated.