Refugee from Afghanistan hoping to double up in LA under French flag

PARIS : Zakia Khudadadi, the first athlete from the refugees team to clinch a medal at the Paralympics, is hoping to represent France at the next games in Los Angeles in 2028 and wants to expand her repertoire by competing in both taekwondo and athletics.

Khudadadi, who was granted asylum by France in 2021 after making her Paralympics debut in Tokyo days after being exfiltrated from Taliban-controlled Kabul, won a taekwondo bronze in the K44-47kg category on Thursday.

The 25-year-old, who trains and lives at the French Institute for Sport and Performance (INSEP) in Paris, celebrated her medal at the Grand Palais on Thursday with the refugees team and also with French flags as she was cheered on like a local.

"I'm continuing until Los Angeles in para taekwondo and in another sport too, because here in Paris it's possible to practice a lot of sports, whereas in Afghanistan it's not possible," Khudadadi told Reuters.

"I'm going for two medals in Los Angeles, I hope. I think (the other sport) will be athletics."

Her entourage said that she is soon expected to be granted the French nationality.

"I hope that after this medal I will be French for (the) Los Angeles (Games). My second goal is to get (taekwondo) goal there," she said in an earlier press conference.

(Writing by Julien Pretot; editing by Pritha Sarkar)