To mark South Asian Heritage Month, BBC Sport takes a look at four sports stars from the UK and around the world who are considered trailblazers in the region.

The month runs from July 18 to August 17 and this year’s theme is “Free to be myself,” which fits with athletes breaking stereotypes and barriers in the world of sports.

Abtaha Maqsood

Scottish player Abtaha Maqsood was the first British female cricketer to wear a hijab.

The 25-year-old was born in Glasgow to Pakistani parents and plays for Birmingham Phoenix, Sunrisers and Middlesex.

The leg-spinner also helped Scotland qualify for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which takes place in October.

In addition to her sporting accolades and her role as flag bearer at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Maqsood has paved the way for young girls from similar backgrounds.

“Having role models is so important,” she told Sunrisers.

Representation is very important, especially in a sport where there are so few British South Asian women.

“By showing our authentic selves on the field, we send a strong message that cricket is a sport for everyone,” Maqsood added to Cricket Scotland.

Earlier this year, Maqsood made his second appearance on CBeebies Bedtime Story.

Yupun Abeykoon

Dubbed the “fastest man in South Asia,” sprinter Yupun Abeykoon is breaking records across the region.

The 29-year-old, born in Sri Lanka, won bronze in the men’s 100 metres at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Abeykoon also became the first South Asian in 32 years to qualify for the men’s 100m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but was eliminated in the preliminary round.

The only athlete in the region to run the men’s 100 metres sprint in under 10 seconds, he also holds the South Asian record in the men’s 60 and 200 metres and the Asian record in the 150 metres.

The sprinter wanted to take part in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but did not qualify in time.

Abeykoon said the lack of Sri Lankan athletes prompted him to look for role models elsewhere in South Asia when he began his professional career.

“I want children to be inspired by me too,” he told Sportstar in 2022.

Asmita Ale

Defender Asmita Ale is one of the few South Asian footballers in England.

Born in Dorset to Nepalese parents, the 22-year-old made history in 2019 when she signed her first professional contract with Aston Villa, becoming the first female footballer of Nepali descent to join a Premier League club.

Ale continues to break barriers for South Asian women by playing in the Women’s Super League.

She began her career at the age of eight in Aston Villa’s academy and, after joining the women’s team, helped the club win the league title and gain promotion to the top division of women’s football.

A move to Tottenham Hotspur followed in 2021 before moving to Leicester City on loan last season.

This arrangement was made permanent in July, with Ale remaining the only Briton of South Asian background in the league.

At international level, she has represented England at youth level and could be the first South Asian to play for the Lionesses.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Ale said her parents always told her to be proud of her heritage.

Mirabai Chanu

Indian Mirabai Chanu not only lifts weights but also breaks barriers for South Asian women.

The 30-year-old is an excellent weightlifter and has won eleven medals in her career so far, including silver at the Tokyo Olympics and gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 49 kg class.

She competed in the women’s up to 49 kg weightlifting event at Paris 2024, but narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth.

Chanu is the youngest of six siblings and was born and raised in the village of Nongpok Kakching. Her family discovered her talent when she was about twelve years old.

At the beginning of her career, she said that India’s most successful weightlifter Kunjarani Devi was her role model and later became Chanu’s coach.

“I want to be a role model for those who want to take up weightlifting,” she told the Hindustan Times after her gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.