Oluwatobiloba Adeoye-Aremu reporting from UK
In a groundbreaking achievement, Zakia Khudadadi secured a bronze medal in the women’s K44 -47kg division at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, becoming the first-ever Refugee Paralympic Team athlete to win a medal. Her victory not only marks a personal triumph but also a historic milestone for the Refugee Paralympic Team.
Just hours before her first match in Paris, Khudadadi confidently told her coach, Haby Niare, that she would become a Paralympic medallist—and she delivered on that promise. Overwhelmed with emotion, Khudadadi expressed her joy: “I’m so, so happy. For me, this medal is a dream. Today, I am in a dream. This is, for me, like life.”
Khudadadi’s journey to the podium was anything but easy. After narrowly losing to Uzbekistan’s Ziyodakhon Isakova in the quarterfinals, she bounced back in her repechage bout, delivering a powerful 9-1 comeback victory against Nurcihan Ekinci of Turkiye. Her perseverance paid off when her opponent in the bronze medal bout withdrew, securing Khudadadi’s place in history.
The atmosphere at the Grand Palais was electric, with the French crowd rallying behind Khudadadi in every bout. Spectators held posters bearing her name and waved flags adorned with the Agitos, the Paralympic logo that symbolizes the Refugee Paralympic Team. After winning the bronze, Khudadadi proudly paraded around the mat with a flag bearing the Paralympic emblem, joined by her jubilant coach.
Khudadadi, who now lives and trains in France, reflected on the significance of her achievement: “I’m so proud of this flag because today, I am a refugee. I worked hard these three years, and there were problems that I had, but that is in the past. Now is important. Now I am a bronze medallist.”
For Khudadadi, this medal is a testament to her resilience and determination. After a harrowing escape from her home country just before her Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020, she has since rebuilt her life and career in France. The memories of Tokyo are bittersweet, but her experience in Paris has been transformative. “When I became a refugee in Paris, I tried to become stronger than before. These two years were proof that we can do what we want, despite the difficulties,” she shared.
Looking ahead, Khudadadi has set her sights on winning gold at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. “I won the bronze medal today, and I am the first female Paralympic refugee, Afghan, winning a bronze medal. This, for me, is like life. I’m here to continue for a gold in Los Angeles.”
Her coach, Haby Niare, is confident that Khudadadi’s journey is far from over. “She is not the same person she used to be. In four years, she will be a Paralympic champion, I am sure,” Niare declared.
Khudadadi’s historic win is more than just a personal achievement; it’s a beacon of hope for refugees and displaced people around the world. “I want to give this medal to the whole world. I hope that one day there will be freedom in my country, for all the world, for all the girls, for all the women, for all the refugees in the world. And that all of us work towards that, for liberty and equality.”
