Using sport to fight stigma

I was born in Afghanistan with a limb difference, but I refused to be defined by limitations. Taekwondo became my passion, a way to prove my strength. When the Taliban took control, my dreams of competing on the world stage seemed impossible. Yet, I didn’t give up. With the help of strangers, I escaped my country, eventually arriving in Tokyo for the Paralympics. Standing on that mat, I felt the weight of my journey. I fought not just for victory but to show that resilience and hope can overcome any obstacle. This was just the beginning of my story.