Zakia Khudadadi, an Afghan taekwondo athlete, has captured global attention with her remarkable journey to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. After the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, Khudadadi was evacuated from the country, allowing her to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in Japan. Following the Tokyo Games, she sought asylum in France, where she joined the Refugee Paralympic Team.
The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris have drawn 4,400 athletes from around the world, competing in 22 sports through September 8. On the first day of competition, Khudadadi defeated Cuba’s Lilisbeth Rivero with a score of 21-11.
Khudadadi’s achievement in winning a bronze medal in taekwondo has been celebrated by Afghans worldwide. In her second match, she narrowly lost to her Uzbek opponent, 3-4. However, she rebounded in her third match, defeating Turkey’s Nurcan Ekinci 9-1. In the final match, her Moroccan opponent withdrew due to injury, securing Khudadadi’s place on the podium in the 44-47 kg weight category.
While Khudadadi’s bronze medal could have been Afghanistan’s first-ever Paralympic medal, she competes under the Refugee Paralympic Team, as she is no longer able to represent her home country officially.
Before the start of the Paralympics, the 25-year-old athlete told France 24 that she fights for the millions of Afghan women who have been stripped of their rights under Taliban rule. Born without part of her arm, Khudadadi began training in secret as a child in her hometown of Herat, overcoming immense obstacles to reach the international stage.
“I fight not only for a different life but to bring awareness to the society I was born into,” Khudadadi said. “In Afghanistan, acceptance of people with disabilities is very difficult, but I have managed to change perceptions through my journey in taekwondo.”
Khudadadi’s victory in Paris has been warmly received by Afghans and international organizations alike. Many see her success as a powerful symbol of defiance against the Taliban’s oppressive policies, particularly their restrictions on women’s voices and visibility.
Nastaran, a supporter who asked to use a pseudonym, expressed her pride: “We are so pleased that a girl has risen from among us to make history by winning this historic medal. It is a tremendous achievement not just for Zakia, but for all Afghan girls and women.”
Another Afghan resident lamented the oppressive conditions women face in Afghanistan: “I am deeply saddened by the restrictive environment created for our daughters. There should not be so many limitations placed on them. Let them break free from these cages, travel to the best places in the world, become champions, and bring smiles to the faces of all Afghans.”
Looking ahead, Khudadadi is already preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, where she aims to bring home a gold medal.
