The “Women Ahead” organization announced that Zakia Khodadadi, a taekwondo athlete from Afghanistan, has been recognized as the “Inspirational Woman” for the year 2024.
In a message posted on their Instagram account, the organization introduced a list of seven “inspirational” women and stated: “Following inspirational women can boost the confidence of girls.”
The “Women Ahead” organization, which is an international organization supporting women, noted that the “courage, resilience, and determination” of these seven women over the past year have been an inspiration for other women and girls.
The announcement mentioned that Zakia Khodadadi became the first refugee medalist in the Paris 2024 Paralympics by winning a bronze medal.
It further stated that she practiced secretly in Afghanistan, fled the country after the return of the caretaker government, and is now a symbol of resistance.
Zakia Khodadadi described this achievement as “honorable” on her Instagram account, stating: “This is not just my voice; it is the voice of all women who fight for freedom and equality.”
This Afghan taekwondo athlete had previously been included in the BBC’s list of 100 Inspirational and Influential Women for the year 2024.
Ms. Khodadadi will participate in the Paris 2024 Paralympics and has made history as the first member of the Refugee Paralympic Team to win a medal.
Zakia was born without one forearm and secretly practiced taekwondo in a hidden club in her hometown of Herat since she was 11 years old. After the current government regained power in 2021, she missed the opportunity to compete in her first Paralympics in Tokyo.
With the intervention of the International Paralympic Committee and support from France, Zakia left Afghanistan and became the first Afghan female athlete to participate in a global sporting event after the takeover of the current government.
