Afghanistan Paralympic boss Arian Sadiq is heartbroken for athletes after Taliban takeover

A female Afghan athlete was supposed to create history at the Paralympics. Instead, she remains trapped in Kabul and faces a grim future.

Afghanistan’s Paralympic Chef de Mission Arian Sadiqi.

She was set to make history in Tokyo but now Afghanistan’s Zakia Khudadadi does not know if she will ever become her country’s first ever female Paralympian.

The Taliban has vowed to respect women’s rights as part of a global publicity blitz in wake of this week’s offensive that saw the insurgents take over Kabul.

But a “heart broken” Arian Sadiqi, Chef de Mission for the Afghanistan Paralympic Committee, is not so convinced.

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Afghanistan’s Zakia Khudadadi does not know if she will ever become her country’s first ever female Paralympian.

“This current situation has left the Afghan nation speechless and have shattered many dreams and hopes for peace and prosperity in the country,” Mr Sadiqi said.

“It is heart breaking ... she (Khudadadi) was our first female athlete and she was going to create history.”

Sadiqi said the athletes had been trying to secure flights, but prices soared as the Taliban took over.

“They were really excited prior to the situation. They were training wherever they could, in the parks and back gardens,” he said.

Afghan athletes first competed at the 1996 Paralympic Games but have never won a medal.

Rohullah Nikpai became Afghanistan’s first Olympic medallist in any sport when he won bronze in taekwondo at the 2008 Beijing Games, repeating the feat at London 2012.

Sadiqi said the future for Afghan athletes looked bleak, if the past was anything to go by.

“There was a lot of progress, both in the Olympics and the Paralympics,” he said of recent decades.

"This is the first time that a female athlete will be representing Afghanistan at the Games and I’m so happy.”
- Zakia Khudadadi 🇦🇫.#Afghanistan | #Paralympics | #Tokyo2020 | @NpcAfghanistan

— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) August 10, 2021

“At the national level there was a lot of participants, a lot of athletes ... but we can only predict from what happened in the past.

“Previously during the Taliban era people couldn’t compete, couldn’t participate, especially female athletes.

“For me, it’s heartbreaking,” he said.

The National Paralympic Committee of Afghanistan were due to fly out on Monday but remain trapped in Kabul.

Since the Taliban was ousted from power two decades ago, women have gained more freedoms which allowed for female athletes like Khudadadi to compete.

However, reports are emerging of new restrictions being forced on women since the Taliban advance.

Previously under the Taliban, women were largely confined to their homes, television and music was banned, and public executions were held.

Now stories are emerging of women being ordered to give up their jobs and remain at home unless wearing the all-covering burqa and accompanied by a male relative.

This is in contrast to just a week ago when a video of Khudadadi was posted to the Paralympic Games’ Twitter account showing her in training.

Opening Ceremony Tokyo Olympics: Flag bearers Kimia Yousofi and Farzad Mansouri of Team Afghanistan. Picture: Getty Images

“This is the first time that a female athlete will be representing Afghanistan at the Games and I’m so happy,” the 23-year-old said.

“I just want to be there with the other athletes from the world and give my best. It is an opportunity to show my ability and I will be so proud to stand with all of those athletes.”

But at the time she was set to depart for Tokyo, and with the Taliban taking over Afghanistan’s capital, she pleaded for help in a last-minute bid to compete in the Paralympics.

“I request from you all…on behalf of all Afghan women to help me,” she said in a video taken in Kabul and reviewed by American media.

“My intention is to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, please hold my hand and help me.”

At 18, she won the first African 2016 Para-taekwondo Championships held in Egypt, and was awarded a wildcard to compete at Tokyo 2020 in the K44 classification.

Originally published as Afghanistan Paralympic boss Arian Sadiq is heartbroken for athletes after Taliban takeover