Afghanistan first competed at the Paralympic Games during the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, where it was represented by cyclists Gul Afzal and Zabet Khan.[1]
| Afghanistan at the Paralympics | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| IPC code | AFG |
| NPC | Afghanistan Paralympic Committee |
| Medals |
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| Summer appearances | |
History edit
Afghanistan did not participate in the Sydney Paralympics in 2000, having been banned from the Games due to its treatment of women under Taliban rule.[2]
Two athletes represented Afghanistan in Athens in 2004: female sprinter Mareena Karim and male cyclist Qaher Hazrat.[3] Neither won a medal.
Afghanistan competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing,[4] where it was represented solely by powerlifter Mohammad Fahim Rahimi.[1] Rahimi returned to powerlifting at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. Again, he was the sole athlete representing his country at the Paralympic Games.
Afghanistan sent one athlete again to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Paralympics, Mohammad Durani. He competed in the men's javelin throw.[5] He finished with a personal best of 26.51 meters, but that put him into last place, and thus not allowed to proceed to the final three throws.[6] However, on 19 September 2016, it was revealed he had tested positive for 19-Norandrosterone, a substance the World Anti-Doping Agency classifies under its list of "Endogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids" and is banned in both in-competition and out-of-competition testing. Therefore, Durani was disqualified and his result annulled.[7][8][9]
Afghanistan was due to compete in the 2020 Summer Paralympics with taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi and track athlete Hossain Rasouli as representatives. However, Afghanistan was forced to withdraw following the Fall of Kabul to the Taliban. Khudaddi was to be the first female Afghan Paralympian since 2004.[10][11]
On 28 August 2021, Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli arrived in Tokyo after taking a flight en route from Kabul to Paris and it also ended the uncertainties which prevailed regarding Afghanistan's participation at the Tokyo Paralympics.[12][13] The President of International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons revealed that both of the Afghan athletes would not be available for interviews and also insisted that permission has been granted to them to skip the usual press conferences.[14]
Afghanistan’s status is unclear for future participations since brought under the political turmoil.[15]
Afghanistan has never won a Paralympic medal, and has never participated in the Winter Paralympic Games.[1]
Medal tables edit
Medals by Summer Games editAfghanistan has competed at five Summer Paralympic Games. Afghanistan has only missed out Sydney 2000 since its debut, due to its banning by the IOC.
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Medals by Winter Games editAfghanistan is yet to participate at the Winter Paralympics.
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See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c Afghanistan at the Paralympics, website of the International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "A Run to The Future", Time, April 11, 2004
- ^ "Athlete Profile - HAZRAT Qaher". International Paralympic Committee. April 8, 2004. Archived from the original on November 17, 2005. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ^ "Afghan Paralympics team leaves for Beijing" Archived 2011-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, Pajhwok Afghan News, August 31, 2008
- ^ "Results – Men's Javelin Throw – F44 Final". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Men's Javelin Throw – F44" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Rio 2016 Paralympics: Afghanistan's Mohammad Naiem Durani banned for doping". BBC Online. 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Afghani field athlete suspended for four years for Anti-Doping Violation". International Paralympic Committee. 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Etchells, Daniel (19 September 2016). "Afghan javelin thrower banned after failed doping test at Rio 2016 Paralympics". Inside the Games. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "'Heartbreaking': Afghan Paralympic athletes to miss Tokyo 2020". Al Jazeera. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan's first female Paralympian, now hiding from the Taliban, hasn't 'lost hope'". ABC News. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan's Paralympians safely evacuated, says International Paralympic Committee". The Indian Express. 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
- ^ "Paralympics | Afghanistan's Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli land in Tokyo to compete at Games". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
- ^ "Afghan athletes arrive in Tokyo". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
- ^ "Bach praises response of Olympic community to Afghanistan crisis with more than 100 assisted in leaving nation".