Zakia Khudadadi, an Afghan taekwondo athlete, won a bronze medal at the Paralympics in Paris on Thursday. She is the first athlete from Afghanistan to achieve this historic milestone at the Paralympics.
Prior to her, no athlete from the country had ever won a medal at the Paralympic Games.
On Thursday, August 29th, Khudadadi defeated her Cuban and Turkish competitors and secured the bronze medal after her Moroccan opponent withdrew due to injury in their final bout.
Khudadadi was scheduled to compete for the bronze medal against Morocco’s Naoual Lachhab in her fourth match at the Paris Paralympics. However, her opponent withdrew from the competition.
Her third opponent, Nurjan Ibrahimi from Turkey, was the vice-world and European champions. Khudadadi triumphed over her with a score of 9-1.
Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, Khudadadi fled the country and sought refuge in France. Before the start of the games, she expressed her intention to represent millions of refugees at the Paris Paralympics and demonstrate that all disabled and displaced persons are exemplars of peace, tolerance, courage, friendship, and equality.
Khudadadi also participated in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and was Afghanistan’s flagbearer at the closing ceremony.
While Khudadadi shines in global competitions, Taliban rule in Afghanistan has banned women from sports and imposed severe restrictions, including mandatory full-body coverings and labeling women’s voices as “indecent.” These laws have sparked anger among women and human rights defenders, further restricting girls’ education, sports, and employment opportunities in the country.
The achievements of athletes like Zakia Khudadadi highlight the resilience and determination of Afghanistan’s women in the face of adversity. Despite international recognition and success, the plight of female athletes in Afghanistan underscores ongoing challenges and restrictions under Taliban rule, impacting their ability to participate fully in society.
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