RASC News Agency: The Afghanistan sports delegation, along with their coaching staff, graced the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which was uniquely staged along the Seine River. Six athletes are representing Afghanistan across various disciplines: Fahim Anwari in swimming, Kimia Yousefi in women’s athletics, Mohammad Samim Faizzada in judo, Feriba Hashemi in cycling, Shah Mahmood Noorzehi in men’s athletics, and Yulduz Hashemi in cycling.
In addition, five Afghanistani athletes are competing as part of the IOC Refugee Team, bringing the total number of Afghanistani participants to eleven. These athletes are competing in events such as swimming, athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, judo, shooting, acrobatic dance, taekwondo, weightlifting, and both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
The IOC Refugee Team, which includes several Afghanistani athletes, is led by Massouma Alizada. The Afghanistani athletes competing under the IOC Refugee Team are:
Negara Rahela Shaheen: Judo (residing in Canada)
Amir Ansari: Road cycling (residing in Sweden)
Manizha Talash: Acrobatic dance (residing in Spain)
Farzad Mansouri: Taekwondo (residing in the UK)
Sebghatullah Arab: Judo (residing in Germany)
The participation of Afghanistani women athletes is particularly noteworthy given the current situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime has imposed severe restrictions on women’s sports, including closing gyms and prohibiting women from participating in sports. Despite these challenges, Afghanistani athletes continue to demonstrate their resilience and determination on the international stage.
