KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Female kickboxers from Afghanistan have won 15 medals, including four gold, at Iran’s national Light Kickboxing qualifying tournament, as Afghan women athletes continue to compete abroad despite a ban on women’s sports under Taliban rule.
The athletes, representing Omid Javan Sports Club, competed at the Shahid Rajaei Sports Complex in Tehran on Thursday, securing four gold, seven silver and four bronze medals at the tournament, which brought together 550 male and female athletes.
Roqia Eslami, Hadya Jafari, Zainab Hosseini and Nasrin Hosseini won gold medals. Zahra Jafari, Masooma Jafari, Narges Mohammadi, Narges Hosseini, Fahima Mohammadi, Sakina Jafari and Madina Jafari secured silver medals, while Fatema Hosseini, Fereshta Yousefi, Sahiba Haidari and Wanda Fazli won bronze medals.
Madina Khalili, the team’s coach, said the athletes continued training despite limited facilities and resources at their club. “Despite the existing restrictions and difficulties, they continue to train and strive with perseverance and strong determination,” Khalili said.
She called for greater support for Afghan female athletes, saying they need more opportunities and assistance to participate in international competitions.
Roqia Eslami, one of the gold medal winners, said restrictions would not prevent Afghan girls from pursuing their ambitions. “My teammates and I always strive to bring pride and honor to our country,” Eslami said.
Referring to the restrictions imposed on Afghan girls’ access to basic rights and opportunities, Eslami said limitations would not stop them from pursuing sports and education. “By imposing restrictions, they cannot deprive us of sports, education and learning. Any restriction imposed against our determination and efforts will one day fade away,” she said.
The achievements come as women and girls in Afghanistan face sweeping restrictions under the Taliban, who returned to power in August 2021 and subsequently banned women from participating in sports.
The restrictions have severely limited opportunities for female athletes to train and compete inside the country, forcing many athletes, including members of Afghanistan’s national sports teams to leave and pursue their careers abroad.
Over the past five years, the Taliban have also shut down several private sports clubs for women that operated secretly, including facilities based in basements. Authorities have also detained officials associated with some of these clubs.
Despite the restrictions, some Afghan female athletes have continued their sporting activities outside the country, participating in competitions and representing Afghanistan on international platforms.
