Khudadadi claimed bronze in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Women’s K44-47 kg, the first-ever refugee Paralympic Team member with a Paralympic medal.
In fact, just a few hours before the first fight at Paris 2024, Para taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi said to her coach that she would become a Paralympic medalist. She just did that for herself, who won a bronze and that is the first ever Refugee Paralympic Team athlete to perform a medal.
“I’m so happy. For me, this medal is a dream. Today, I am in the dream,” expressed Khudadadi, who participated in the women’s K44-47 kg class. “It is for me as life.”
After gaining a bronze medal at the Grand Palais, she was around the mat holding a flag with the pare intimidation as the Refugee Paralympic Team participated under. Her coach Haby Niare was not left behind and as the crowd cheered, she gave the African Queen a round of applause for making her go the distance.
“I am very proud of this flag because today I am a refugee,” said Khudadadi, who resides and trains in France. “I was lucky these three years there were issues that I had but they are in the past.”
“This is the point in time I have wanted to be—now I am a bronze medalist.
History-maker
Khudadadi fought on the first competitive day at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Khudadadi fell to Ziyodakhon Isakova of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals but managed to defeat Nurcihan Ekinci of Turkiye in her repechage bout; despite this, she scored a spectacular 9-1 comeback. She got her first medal after her rival in the bronze medal match withdrew from the competition.
At the final bout of the boxing championship staged at the Grand Palais, the French public stood solid with her. Her arrival at the mat for the first fight triggered the fans and they went on clapping for her. The crowd chanted the phrase “Zakia.” Some of these had a large banner in the form of the Paralympic sign under which refugees compete, the Agitos.
Niare, who trains Khudadadi in France, says that it was a dream that came through for the two of them.
”We did it. We are so happy. She deserves it. She worked hard every day. Every day, it’s not easy but today was the day. She did not have a choice today,” expressed Niare, weighing 69 kg, a Rio 2016 Olympic women’s division silver medalist in the welterweight class.
‘I said to her, ‘I want a medal’, —she replied, ‘I will give you a medal today’. So, we were at the same level today and I am glad,’ — the coach concluded.
From Tokyo to Paris
Khudadadi began practicing parasports at the age of nine with the aim of performing at Paralympics. Tokyo 2020 was her first Paralympics; she escaped her home country three days before these games.
She has noted that to her, Tokyo 2020 is associated with a sad story. However, there were issues that she had to contend with after starting a new life in France.
“When I became a refugee in Paris, I wanted to be stronger than before,” Khudadadi said earlier in the tournament, referring to his experiences in the past two years.
But she returned to compete at Paris 2024 with a lot more confidence and all that she has to say is happy memories. This one is the most significant medal in someone’s life. That is how I remember the day because I clinched the bronze medal. ”
Next stop: LA
Speaking about her future plan, Khudadadi now plans to win the gold medal in the Paralympics to be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
And Niare is also certain that this is possible.
“She is not the person she was before; in four years, she will win a Paralympic Games, I am sure. ”
