It was thought that they would not be able to compete in Tokyo. They were stranded in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, after the Taliban forces took over the city in mid-August 2021.
By
I Gusti AB Angga Putra
·4 minutes read
AP/TBS
In this image made from a video, Afghan athletes Zakia Khudadadi, center left, and Hossain Rasouli, center right, arrive at Haneda airport in Tokyo Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021. They have arrived in Tokyo, via what\'s been described as a harrowing journey from Kabul to Paris, to compete in the Paralympics.
The spirit of solidarity and humanity resounded at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics with the arrival of two Afghan athletes, Rasouli and Khudadadi, who had fled from Kabul. It was thought that they would not be able to compete in Tokyo.
After passing various hardships and twists and turns during their escape, two Afghan athletes, Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli, realized their dream of taking part in the Tokyo Paralympics. They arrived safely in Japan with the help of many parties.
It was thought that they would not be able to compete in Tokyo. They were stranded in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, after the Taliban forces took over the city in mid-August 2021. Khudadadi and Rasouli then failed to leave at the prearranged time. They should have arrived in Tokyo on Aug. 17.
They made various efforts to get to Tokyo. Khudadadi, for example, asked the citizens of the world to evacuate her from Kabul. Her video request touched the hearts of many and went viral on social media.
"As an Afghan woman and as a representative of Afghan women I ask for you to help me. My intension is to participate in the Tokyo Paralympics. Please hold my hand and help me," Khudadadi said in her video appeal.
He also contacted the Center for Sport and Human Rights (CSHR), which is based in Switzerland, to evacuate the two athletes.
Arian Sadiqi of the Afghan Paralympic Committee (APC) also made an effort to evacuate the two athletes with disabilities. He tried to contact the British Paralympic Committee for help. He also contacted the Center for Sport and Human Rights (CSHR), which is based in Switzerland, to evacuate the two athletes.
Several days after seeking various ways to escape, there was no news from the two athletes. Not even their closest friends and family members could reach them. The whereabouts of Khudadadi and Rasouli were a mystery.
Worries about their safety grew. Taliban troops spread out and went to people\'s houses in Kabul to look for athletes, government officials and human rights activists, who were hiding in fear.
AP/TBS
In this image made from a video, Afghan athletes Zakia Khudadadi, left, and Hossain Rasouli arrive at Haneda airport in Tokyo Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021. They have arrived in Tokyo, via what\'s been described as a harrowing journey from Kabul to Paris, to compete in the Paralympics. (TBS via AP)
In the midst of the uncertainty of the fate of the two athletes, the shocking news suddenly appeared.
Khudadadi and Rasouli were reported to be in Paris. They had apparently managed to escape from Kabul.
During their efforts to escape, they were stranded at Kabul airport because they couldn\'t get a plane to go.
They were later taken to Paris for recovery, before arriving in Tokyo on Saturday (28/8/2021).
Then Khudadadi and Rasouli sent a request for help to a WhatsApp chat group containing Australians. From there, they were allowed by Australian soldiers to enter the protection zone after presenting their emergency visa documents. They were later taken to Paris for recovery, before arriving in Tokyo on Saturday (28/8/2021).
“The fact that so many authorities have combined to make this possible is truly wonderful,” said Chelsey Gotell, Athletes\' Council chairperson of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Khudadadi arrived on time to compete in the women\'s 44 to 49 kilogram weight category in taekwondo on Thursday (2/9), while, Rasouli will compete in the men\'s T47 400-meter run on Friday (3/9).
The APC appreciated the help of the many parties in realizing the dreams of their two athletes. "We all know there will always be differences. However, we have more similarities than differences that separate us," said Sadiqi.
IPC President Andrew Parsons said that even though there was a remote chance that Khudadadi and Rasouli would be able to participate at Tokyo 2020, the Afghan flag was paraded at the Opening Ceremony. He felt confident that the two athletes would be able to perform in Tokyo. His feeling has now been proven correct.
AFP/CHARLY TRIBALLEAU
South Korea\'s Ki Won Nam competes against Britain\'s Thomas Matthews in the men\'s singles - classs 1 Group B match during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Tokyo Metropolitan gymnasium in Tokyo on August 26, 2021.
“Like all the athletes here at Tokyo 2020, we never gave up hope, and to now have Zakia and Hossain in the Paralympic Village alongside 4,403 other Paralympians shows the remarkable power of sport to bring people together in peace,” he said in a statement from the IPC.
Through the participation of Khudadadi and Rasouli in Tokyo, the athletes raised hopes of peace and solidarity for the people of Afghanistan and the world. In the “Land of the Rising Sun,” the hope for peace has blossomed again. (AFP)
