Zakia Khudadadi scripted history at the Paris Paralympics 2024 by becoming the first athlete from the Refugee Paralympic Team to bag a medal.
Khudadadi won bronze in the women’s 47kg category in taekwondo after defeating Turkey’s Ekinci Nurcihan on August 29.
“It was a surreal moment, my heart started racing when I realized I had won the bronze,” said an emotional Khudadadi. “I went through so much to get here. This medal is for all the women of Afghanistan and all the refugees of the world. I hope that one day there will be peace in my country.”
Who is Zakia Khudadadi?
Khudadadi is an Afghan parataekwondo athlete. She is the first Afghan female taekwondo practitioner who rose to prominence after winning the African International Parataekwondo Championship in 2016 at the age of 18.
Born in Herat Province, Khudadadi belongs to the Hazara ethnic group. She was encouraged to take up the sport of taekwondo since Afghanistan’s only Olympic medals came in this sport in 2008 and 2012. She was inspired by Rohullah Nikpai, Afghanistan’s first and currently only Olympic medalist.
After the downfall of the Taliban in 2001, Khudadadi, like many other women in Afghanistan, was encouraged to take up sports just like men did. However, she could train only at her home and in her backyard due to the presence of Taliban in her home province of Herat.
Khudadadi, who was born without one forearm, began practicing taekwondo at the age of 11. Initially blocked from competing following the occupation of the Taliban in 2021, Khudadadi was evacuated from Afghanistan and was later allowed by the International Paralympic Committee to compete at the Tokyo Olympics for her country following a plea from the international community.
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Tokyo to Paris: A Fulfilling Journey
Khudadadi made her Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 just days after a harrowing escape from her home country. On 2 September 2021, she competed in the round of 16 event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games in women’s K44 Under-49 kg event and lost the round to Ziyodakhon Isakova of Uzbekistan. Khudadadi subsequently qualified to the repechage round but lost to Viktoriia Marchuk of Ukraine.
Three years later, she completed her unfinished agenda in Paris and won her first medal at Paralympics 2024. with more confidence and she has only happy memories. “I want to give this medal to the whole world. I hope that one day there will be freedom in my country, for all the world, for all the girls, for all the women, for all the refugees in the world. And that all of us work towards that, for liberty and equality”, she said.
Also Read: Refugee Paralympic Team Pass Message Of Hope At Paris Paralympics 2024
Next Destination: Los Angeles
After achieving her goal of winning a medal in Paralympics, Khudadadi now hopes to win a gold medal in Los Angeles in 2028.
“I won the bronze medal today, and I am the first female Paralympic refugee, Afghan, winning a bronze medal. This, for me, is like life. I’m here to continue for a gold in Los Angeles.”
