Zakia Khudadadi: A voice of Afghan resilience

In Zakia Khudadadi’s world, the concept of ‘limitations’ is nothing more than a challenge waiting to be overcome. Not only was she Afghanistan’s first female taekwondo practitioner – which is a groundbreaking achievement in its own right – but she was born without a left arm. One Paralympic medal up this year, and now based in Paris after fleeing her native Afghanistan following the August 2021 Taliban takeover, she rises to each obstacle as an unstoppable force of advocacy for the rights of Afghan women and people with disabilities. 

Born in Herat, Zakia’s entry into taekwondo began at the age of nine and was furthered by the encouragement of a mentor who saw her potential. As a girl growing up without a left arm in a conservative society that often relegated both women and people with disabilities to the shadows, she found solace and strength in taekwondo. The martial art required minimal equipment, making it an ideal avenue for expressing her ambition. But even as she found her footing, Zakia faced significant opposition beyond the mat, with cultural pressure urging her to abandon her dreams in favour of the more conventional role of wife or daughter. 

Beyond pressure from her community, the looming presence of the Taliban also posed challenges to her ability to practice her sport in her home province. Zakia wasn’t able to represent local clubs, so her training sessions happened at home, in her backyard. Regardless, her tenacity was undeniable, and it led her to the African Para Taekwondo Championships held in Egypt in 2016, where she made history as the first female athlete to win a medal for Afghanistan in her discipline. At only 18, this achievement was the launching point for a veritable streak of success which would lead her to the global stage, and an unprecedented turning point. 

Just days before the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, the Taliban’s rapid ascent to power left her stranded in Kabul, separated from her family and her dreams. In a moment of desperation, she reached out through social media, appealing to the international community for assistance. The response was swift and, within days, global organisations mobilised to facilitate her escape, allowing her to represent her country at the games. Her new status meant that she now competed under the banner of a refugee team for the Paralympics; while she relished the opportunity to showcase her talent internationally, her experience was laden with a bittersweet concession to her new circumstances. Holding the Afghan flag during the closing ceremony, Zakia was facing both pride in representing her country and sorrow for the home she was forced to sacrifice. 

Four years later at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Zakia achieved precisely what she told her coach what she predicted: that she would become a Paralympic medallist. Earning a bronze medal in the women’s K44 -47kg category, she made history as the first athlete from the Refugee Paralympic Team to win a medal. Celebrating her victory at the Grand Palais, she took a triumphant lap around the mat, proudly hoisting a flag with the Paralympic logo as the crowd roared in support. She later made headlines with the burning sincerity and hope in her victory speech: “I went through so much to get here,” she declared. “This medal is for all the women of Afghanistan and all the refugees of the world. I hope one day there will be peace in my country.”

Leading up to the recent Paralympic Games in Paris, Zakia consistently leveraged her platform to shine a light on the plight of her fellow countrywomen, many of whom were ensnared in the stifling cycles of oppression and violence. The fighter professed her goal to impart a message of hope to those who feel unheard, to challenge the global rendering of Afghan women as helpless victims with the truth of the matter: more than their circumstances, they are armed with a wealth of culture, creativity and grit. 

For someone born in what many would consider a helpless situation, Zakia has a formidable sense of self, a cognisance of her own strength. Her experience sheds light on the nuanced realities of Afghan culture, challenging the stereotypical narratives often perpetuated by western media. In conversations with the press, Zakia makes sure to point out that her story represents just one facet of a multifaceted position that is frequently reduced to tropes of oppression. She often emphasises that the struggles faced by Afghan women are not monolithic and that assuming so would minimise the agency and resilience of women on the ground.

Following her historic medal win, Zakia is now setting her sights on a gold medal in Los Angeles in 2028, training diligently at INSEP, France’s national institute of sport. She’s preparing under the guidance of her coach, Haby Niare, a former taekwondo world champion. If she’s come this far training in her backyard, we can’t wait to see what she achieves with Haby’s help. Zakia represents the core of the Dazed 100: an undeniable groundbreaker who defies convention and inspires collective change. Her journey teaches us that internal fortitude knows no bounds; strength and sovereignty can flourish even in the harshest circumstances. With every match she faces, this Afghan fighter is kicking down barriers and striking a blow for change.