KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Zakia Khudadadi, Afghanistan’s trailblazing para-taekwondo athlete, has been awarded the Emerging Leadership prize by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in recognition of her advocacy for women’s rights and her historic achievements in sports.
The IPC announced the winners of its 2025 International Women’s Day Recognition Awards on March 7, honoring three figures who have significantly contributed to gender equality and inclusion in sports.
Khudadadi, who made history as the first woman from Afghanistan to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, has since become a vocal advocate for women’s right to participate in sports.
After fleeing Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, she rebuilt her career in exile and won a gold medal at the 2023 European Para Championships.
Last year, she further cemented her legacy by securing a historic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, competing as part of the Refugee Paralympic Team.
In her acceptance speech, Khudadadi dedicated the award to women, saying: “This is a great honor for me and for all the women of Afghanistan. It feels like a dream, but it is our reality—Afghan women are standing bravely against oppression, demanding their rights not as a wish, but as an undeniable truth. Their voices will not be silenced.”
Khudadadi, now based in France, remains a beacon of hope for Afghanistan’s women and athletes worldwide. Her achievements come at a time when her peers at home face increasing restrictions, with the Taliban banning them from public sports, education, and workplaces.
