The two Afghanistan taekwondo athletes won’t take part on the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics.© AFP
Afghanistan’s two Paralympic athletes have been safely evacuated from the nation, the International Paralympic Committee stated Wednesday, declining to specify their vacation spot. The two taekwondo athletes, Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli, had been initially attributable to symbolize their nation on the Tokyo Paralympics. But with the swift fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, the pair had been among the many tens of 1000’s trapped and unable to go away the nation. Before the Games started, the IPC confirmed that the athletes would now not have the ability to compete, and the Afghan flag featured at Tuesday’s opening ceremony in a symbolic vogue solely, carried by a volunteer.
“Efforts have been made to remove them from Afghanistan, they are now in a safe place,” IPC spokesman Craig Spence stated Wednesday.
“I’m not going to tell you where they are because this isn’t about sport, this is about human life and keeping people safe.”
Spence stated the pair wouldn’t be competing on the Games, and their focus in the meanwhile was on their well-being.
“Obviously they’ve been through a very traumatic process, they’re undergoing counselling and psychological help,” he informed reporters.
“We are being kept in the loop about their whereabouts and their well-being.”
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Khudadadi, 23, was to be the primary lady ever to symbolize Afghanistan on the Paralympics and had appealed for assist to flee the nation after the Taliban takeover.
Australian broadcaster ABC reported that the Paralympians had been amongst a bunch of Afghan athletes evacuated to Australia, however there was no official affirmation.
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