Zakia Khudadadi wins Refugee Paralympic Team's first medal, citing Ngamba and Niare.

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Refugee, woman, and disabled person, Zakia Khudadadi may struggle in daily life.  

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Afghanistan-born athlete who earned the first Refugee Paralympic Team medal on Thursday (29 August) said lady is the heaviest title to hold.  

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I consider bronze gold because I live in France. Before Afghanistan, I couldn't do the sport "Khudadadi said Olympics.com after winning the Para taekwondo K44-47kg medal.  

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The Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August 2021, forcing the 25-year-old athlete to flee. Khudadadi was set to make her Paralympic debut in Tokyo 2020, becoming Afghanistan's second female competitor and first since Athens 2004.  

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Female athlete Khudadadi was evacuated from Kabul a week before Tokyo 2020 with sprinter Hossain Rasouli after the takeover due to death threats. 

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After moving to Paris, France, she became the only female athlete on the eight-person Refugee Paralympic Team for the 2024 Games  

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Haby Niare, a Rio 2016 silver medalist, coached her to the record podium. Niare was the first to run over to congratulate an emotional Khudadadi on her historic win.  

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"So excited. Khudadadi stated, "I'm thrilled to realize my ambition. As the first female Paralympiac refugee in the world, I won a bronze medal today. This is my dream. Now I'm dreaming."  

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