Paris Paralympics: Afghan para taekwondo Zakia Khudadadi’s fight for women, refugees
Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00For Persian New Year, or Nowruz, Zakia left her taekwondo uniform in the wardrobe.
00:19Ahead of the Games, the Afghan diaspora in Paris has expressed support for the athlete.
00:32Zakia arrived in France six months before she was joined by her parents and sister,
00:37and they too have high hopes for a medal.
00:50She's one of the few Afghan women to take part in the Paralympic Games to date,
00:54setting an example for the younger generation.
01:19More broadly, Zakia wants to speak up for other refugees.
01:50In the heart of Paris, this exhibition celebrates refugee athletes,
01:54including Mazoma Alizada, an Afghan cyclist and Zakia's friend.
02:20Zakia has been living in France since 2021.
02:23She was unable to obtain French citizenship in time for the Games,
02:27so will be competing for the refugee team.