Afghan Paralympians arrive at Games after harrowing journey from Kabul to Tokyo
Two athletes from Afghanistan have arrived in Tokyo to compete in the Paralympics, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said.
Key points:
- Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli had flown from Kabul to Paris before travelling to Tokyo
- Khudadadi will be the country’s first female athlete to compete at the Paralympics since Athens 2004
- The pair will not be available for interviews and have been given permission to skip press conferences
The two-person team of Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli had flown from Kabul to Paris before continuing on to Tokyo, the IPC said.
Khudadadi will be Afghanistan’s first female athlete to compete at the Paralympics since Athens 2004.
She will challenge in the women’s 44-49-kilogram weight category in taekwondo on Thursday, and her teammate will line up in the heats of the men’s 400 meters T47 event on Friday.
Stranded at Kabul’s airport, the pair sent a plea for help to an Australian WhatsApp group.
They were cleared by armed forces to enter the protected zone after showing emergency visa documentation from Australia.
The Paralympics finish on September 5.
The IPC said the two were met in Tokyo at the Paralympic Village by IPC president Andrew Parsons.
The IPC said they would not be available for interviews and have been given permission to skip the usual press conferences.
“Twelve days ago we were informed that the Afghan Paralympic team could not travel to Tokyo, a move that broke the hearts of all involved in the Paralympic movement and left both athletes devastated,” Parsons said in a statement provided by the IPC.
Supplied: International Paralympic Committee
)“That announcement kick-started a major global operation that led to their safe evacuation from Afghanistan, their recuperation by France, and now their safe arrival in Tokyo.”
Chelsey Gotell, the IPC Athletes’ Council chairperson, welcomed them in a statement also provided by the IPC.
“On behalf of their fellow 4,403 Paralympic athletes competing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, I welcome Zakia and Hossain to the Paralympic Village,” she said.
“Both athletes have been extremely clear that after years of training they wanted to compete on the biggest stage of all, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
“The fact that so many authorities have combined to make this possible is truly wonderful.”
AP
