Two Afghan athletes arrive in Tokyo, now set to compete at Paralympics

Tokyo: Two athletes from Afghanistan have arrived in Tokyo and will now compete at the Paralympics after evacuating Kabul and spending time in Paris.

The Afghanistan Paralympic Committee announced late on Saturday evening Tokyo time that Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli had landed in Japan after fears Afghanistan would have no athletes at the Games given their country’s capital city, Kabul, has been take over by the Taliban.

Afghan Paralympic athletes Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli. Credit:International Paralympic Committee

Last week, IPC spokesperson Craig Spence said: “Due to the serious ongoing situation in the country, all airports are closed and there is no way for them to travel to Tokyo.”

During Tuesday’s Paralympics opening ceremony, Afghanistan’s flag was carried into the Olympic Stadium by volunteers as an act of solidarity.