Afghanistan’s 2-member team arrive in Tokyo for Paralympics

Afghanistan‘s two-member contingent arrived in Tokyo to compete in the Paralympics, the International Paralympic Committee said on Saturday. The team of Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli flew from Kabul to Paris before heading for Tokyo, the IPC said.

Zakia will become Afghanistan’s first female athlete to compete at the Paralympics since Athens 2004. She will be in action in the women’s 44-49-kg category in taekwondo on Thursday. As for Hossain, he will compete in the heats of the men’s 400 meters T47 event on Friday.

The international body said that the athletes were met in Tokyo at the Paralympic Village by IPC president Andrew Parsons. The athletes will 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.

“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,” he added.

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,” she said.

“I welcome Zakia and Hossain to the Paralympic Village. This is their home for the next nine days and as a community we are 100% behind them,” Gotell further added.

“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,” Gotell added. “The fact that so many authorities have combined to make this possible is truly wonderful,” she further added.

The Paralympics that started on August 25 will close on September 5. Tokyo is the first city to hold the Paralympic Games for the second time.

(With inputs from Associated Press)