A flag bearer carries the Afghanistan flag into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the 2020 Paralympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021.
A flag bearer carries the Afghanistan flag into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the 2020 Paralympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021.
(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
  • A duo from Afghanistan's paralympic team has made it to Tokyo after escaping Afghanistan.
  • Zakia Khudadadi will represent the country in taekwondo, whilst Hossain Rasouli will compete in the 400m athletics.
  • International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons said the organizing committee "never gave up hope."
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

A duo from Afghanistan's paralympic team has made it to Tokyo after escaping Afghanistan.

Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli were set to miss the games but were able to leave Kabul after the Taliban seized the country.

The pair's evacuation journey included a week-long stay in Paris, at the National Institute of Sport Expertise and Performance (INSEP), the French sports ministry's high performance training centre, before continuing on to Tokyo.

Khudadadi will be representing the country in taekwondo, whilst Rasouli will be competing in the 400m athletic heats.

After the Taliban took Kabul and closed its airport, Khudadadi expressed her anguish at not being able to reach the games.

She told Reuters: "The fact that we ourselves have lifted ourselves from this situation, that we have achieved so much, it cannot be taken lightly. I have suffered a lot, I don't want my struggle to be in vain and without any results. Help me." Read the full story here.

However now, Khudadadi and Rasouli can reach the games - and Khudadai can become the first woman to represent Afghanistan in the Paralympics.

International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons said in a statement: "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.

"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. We always knew there was a remote chance both athletes could participate at Tokyo 2020 which is why the Afghan flag was paraded at Tuesday's opening ceremony.

"Like all the athletes here at Tokyo 2020, we never gave up hope."

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