Zakia Khodadadi, a para taekwondo athlete from Afghanistan, has won a bronze medal at the 2026 World Para Taekwondo Grand Prix held in South Korea.
In a post on her Instagram account, Ms. Khodadadi stated that the competition took place yesterday (Friday, September 04) in the city of Moju, and she earned the bronze medal in the 2026 World Para Taekwondo Grand Prix.
Khodadadi emphasized that she competed in the under 47 kg weight category. With one victory and one loss in the semifinals against another athlete from Turkey, she secured third place and achieved the bronze medal.
This comes after Zakia Khodadadi was crowned champion of the 2026 European Para Taekwondo Championships just a few months ago, where she won the gold medal.
Last spring, Khodadadi also won a bronze medal at the Rio Open G2 2025 para taekwondo tournament in Brazil.
She is the first female athlete from Afghanistan to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, earning the title of “brave woman” in this sporting event.
Furthermore, due to her advocacy for women’s rights in Afghanistan, particularly the right to education and sports for girls, she received the Emerging Leadership category of the International Paralympic Committee’s International Women’s Day Award in 2025.
As Zakia Khodadadi announces her medal achievement, it is important to note that women and girls in Afghanistan are currently deprived of all forms of sports.
