Afghan and Burundian athletes -- tossed about by the political situations in their home countries -- fought in separate taekwondo matches at the Tokyo Paralympics on Thursday.
Although both were defeated, those who watched the matches gave each of the Paralympians a hearty round of applause as they had overcome major hardships before coming to Japan and competed fiercely.
Zakia Khudadadi, 22, in the women's taekwondo K44 class, a member of the Afghan national team, was worried about leaving the country as the Taliban swept into Kabul on Aug. 15.
In a video message from Kabul, she made a plea for help, saying, "I want to participate in the Games, and ask for you to help me."
In response to her appeal, France and other countries extended a helping hand. She was able to evacuate to Paris, en route to making her long-awaited visit to Japan.
On the day she competed in the women's 49-kilogram weight category, she lost in the first round. She then took the lead until the middle of the consolation match, but her Ukrainian opponent Viktoriia Marchuk turned the tables with a fierce attack toward the end.
Marchuk praised Khudadadi's performance, and said she was worried about the current situation in Afghanistan, and was glad they were able to fight.
Parfait Hakizimana, 33, from Burundi in East Africa, is a member of the Paralympic refugee team. He competed in the men's taekwondo K44 class of the 61-kilogram category.
He lost his mother during the civil war in Burundi, and became unable to control his left arm after being shot. He learned about taekwondo through rehabilitation when he was 16. Six years ago, he fled his home country to live in a refugee camp in neighboring Rwanda.
He has formed a taekwondo club in the camp and teaches the martial art to about 150 people including children.
He was injured in a fierce exchange of kicks in the first round and had to withdraw from the tournament.
"I want to thank the children in the refugee camps and refugees all over the world for bringing me this far," he said.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
