Zakia Khodadadi clinches first Paralympic medal for Refugee Paralympic Team
Zakia Khodadadi celebrating her historic bronze medal for the Refugee Paralympic Team (Photo by Zabihullah Shahzaad)
PARIS, August 30, 2024 - Zakia Khodadadi, a Para Taekwondo athlete from Afghanistan and a member of the Refugee Paralympic Team, has etched her name in the history books by winning a bronze medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris.
HISTORIC This remarkable achievement marks the first-ever Paralympic medal for both an Afghan athlete and the Refugee Paralympic Team.
Competing in the 47 kg Para Taekwondo category, Khodadadi, born without one forearm, demonstrated exceptional skill and determination throughout the competition.
She began her campaign with a commanding victory over her Cuban opponent, winning 21-11.
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L-R Ziyodakhon Isakova (Silver), Angelica Espinoza (Gold) and Khwansuda Phuangkitcha (Thailand) and Zakia Khodadadi (Bronze) (Photo by Zabihullah Shahzaad)
BEATING A EUROPEAN CHAMPION Despite a narrow 4-3 defeat in the quarterfinals to an opponent from Uzbekistan, her initial victory allowed her to remain in contention. In the repechage round, Khodadadi faced Nurcihan Ekinci, a European champion and world silver medalist.
She triumphed with a decisive 9-1 score, earning her a spot in the bronze medal match.
Originally set to face Naoual Laarif of Morocco in the bronze medal match, Khodadadi was awarded the win after Laarif withdrew due to injury.
SOURCE OF IMMENSE PRIDE With this victory, Zakia Khodadadi secured a historic bronze medal, bringing pride to both the Refugee Paralympic Team and Afghanistan.
Her success is celebrated not only as a monumental achievement for the Refugee Paralympic Team but also as a source of immense pride for the Afghan people, who honor her as a national heroine.
HER JOURNEY Khodadadi’s journey is a powerful symbol of resilience and hope, inspiring countless others around the world. She took up the sport at the age of nine and even had to practice in secret in her hometown, Herat in western Afghanistan. And as a person with disability in her country she faced indescribable challenges that led her to attempt suicide at the age of 10. "However I survived and came back even stronger. I fought for years to prove that disability is not a limitation," she told paralympic.org in an interview in July.
LIVING IN FRANCE In 2021, following the return to power of the Taliban, Khodadadi had to be evacuated from Afghanistan after her desperate appeal on video. She became the second female athlete to represent Afghanistan in any sport at the Paralympic Games when she competed at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she also carried the country's flag at the closing ceremony.
Since fleeing Afghanistan in 2021, Khodadadi has been residing in Paris, France, training at the National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP) alongside French athletes and French coach Haby Niare. At the 2023 European Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, she won a gold medal and now she has achieved her life-long dream of an Olympic medal.
HISTORIC This remarkable achievement marks the first-ever Paralympic medal for both an Afghan athlete and the Refugee Paralympic Team.
Competing in the 47 kg Para Taekwondo category, Khodadadi, born without one forearm, demonstrated exceptional skill and determination throughout the competition.
She began her campaign with a commanding victory over her Cuban opponent, winning 21-11.
BEATING A EUROPEAN CHAMPION Despite a narrow 4-3 defeat in the quarterfinals to an opponent from Uzbekistan, her initial victory allowed her to remain in contention. In the repechage round, Khodadadi faced Nurcihan Ekinci, a European champion and world silver medalist.
She triumphed with a decisive 9-1 score, earning her a spot in the bronze medal match.
Originally set to face Naoual Laarif of Morocco in the bronze medal match, Khodadadi was awarded the win after Laarif withdrew due to injury.
SOURCE OF IMMENSE PRIDE With this victory, Zakia Khodadadi secured a historic bronze medal, bringing pride to both the Refugee Paralympic Team and Afghanistan.
Her success is celebrated not only as a monumental achievement for the Refugee Paralympic Team but also as a source of immense pride for the Afghan people, who honor her as a national heroine.
HER JOURNEY Khodadadi’s journey is a powerful symbol of resilience and hope, inspiring countless others around the world. She took up the sport at the age of nine and even had to practice in secret in her hometown, Herat in western Afghanistan. And as a person with disability in her country she faced indescribable challenges that led her to attempt suicide at the age of 10. "However I survived and came back even stronger. I fought for years to prove that disability is not a limitation," she told paralympic.org in an interview in July.
LIVING IN FRANCE In 2021, following the return to power of the Taliban, Khodadadi had to be evacuated from Afghanistan after her desperate appeal on video. She became the second female athlete to represent Afghanistan in any sport at the Paralympic Games when she competed at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she also carried the country's flag at the closing ceremony.
Since fleeing Afghanistan in 2021, Khodadadi has been residing in Paris, France, training at the National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP) alongside French athletes and French coach Haby Niare. At the 2023 European Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, she won a gold medal and now she has achieved her life-long dream of an Olympic medal.
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