Every afternoon sisters Sanno Babi and Sakila Babi make it to an indoor ring, dump their veils and practise for two hours with a view to becoming champion boxers.

They know not many in their largely Muslim neighbourhood in this teeming metropolis would be happy to see them in their boxing attire. But the 17-year-old school dropouts are a determined and focused pair. And the South Calcutta Physical Culture Association (SCPCA), where they have been students for several years, is more than happy to teach them boxing - free of cost.

Under the watchful eyes of their trainer Asit Banerjee, the sisters shed their veil - and inhibitions - and slipped into the role of "no-nonsense" boxers along with the men.

Sanno and Sakila may be the poor cousins of Laila Ali, daughter of legendary Muhammad Ali. But they are among the 21 women boxers at the SCPCA.

Their penchant for boxing stemmed from watching boys in their neighbourhood in boxing gloves. Their inspiration was local boy Mohammed Ali Qamar, who rose from adversities to clinch a gold medal in the light flyweight category at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2003.

"Since our childhood we have watched boxing at a club in Nawali Park, Kidderpore. Then we decided to come here for training," Sanno, who along with sister took part in the 2003 National Games in Hyderabad, told IANS.

"We practise two hours daily. We are three sisters and three brothers. Our father died five years ago. My mother is a member of the Congress women's wing. Our family is dependent on my elder brother who works in a bank.

"We hope to find an avenue for a decent livelihood through boxing," says Sanno, who also sees it as a means of self-defence. "We recently bashed up a shopkeeper and a hoodlum who were teasing us. We can now protect ourselves better," she says.

Though Sanno and Sakila's family stands by their decision to plunge into boxing, not all girls at SCPCA are lucky.

"Getting our parents to agree was unimaginable," recalls Shabnam, another boxer.

"When I decided to drop the veil for the boxing gloves and I told my parents about it, they were shocked. But they gave in to my unrelenting attitude."

In the beginning Shabnam used to come to the boxing club wearing a burqa.

According to Banerjee, who is also the SCPCA secretary: "Our society talks of women's empowerment. I think this is a new avenue for women to prove themselves.

"Though the parents of these girls were sceptical initially, they are now more cooperative. They know their girls are safe in my club and I have greater acceptance among them."

"I feel proud when I am told by (Pakistan-based) Anwar Chowdhury, president of International Boxing Tournament (IBT), how he appreciates our endeavour and feels sorry that the same cannot be replicated in his country," says Banerjee.

The first official women's boxing event in India was held by the SCPCA in 2000 in Kolkata, followed by a national championship in Chennai in January 2001 where girls from the SCPCA won four medals.

Banerjee says Razia, Sanjukta, Geeta Channu and Malati - the medal winners at Chennai - are now working as coaches.

"Razia and Sanjukta have also started refereeing and judging. Razia went to Turkey and Russia for refereeing. She did her job so well that an impressed Anwar Chowdhury asked her to conduct the male bout. Razia is a regular coach here," explains Banerjee.

According to Banerjee, India has some 200 women boxers, but the pioneering effort came from girls of Kolkata's Muslim neighbourhoods.

"This is the struggle period for Indian women boxers. Their time will come. Then, they will be the million dollar babies," said Banerjee, alluding to the Oscar-winning film that has a female boxer as one of the protagonists.