Zakia Khudadadi, a para-taekwondo athlete and newly appointed Champion of Peace, attended the launch of the #WhiteCard2025 campaign organized by Peace and Sport in Monaco on March 26, 2025. Celebrated for her resilience and determination, Khudadadi aims to raise awareness for Afghan women through this platform.

Born with a malformed arm in Herat, Afghanistan, on September 29, 1998, Khudadadi began practicing para-taekwondo in 2008, a pursuit that was often restricted for women in her country during the Taliban’s earlier rule from 1996 to 2001. She credits her supportive family for encouraging her to pursue her athletic dreams despite the prevailing barriers.

Khudadadi fled Afghanistan for France on August 17, 2021, just two days after the Taliban regained control of Kabul.

Arriving without any possessions, she quickly acclimated to her new life, learning French within eight months and securing refugee status.

Since her arrival, she has trained with the French national team at the National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (INSEP).

Significantly, Khudadadi made history at the 2024 Paris Paralympics by becoming the first athlete from the Refugee Paralympic Team to win a medal, securing bronze in the under-49 kg category.

Her accomplishments include winning gold at the 2023 European Championships in Rotterdam.

In her statements, Khudadadi emphasized that her refugee status and past experiences have fueled her determination to elevate the plight of Afghan women, advocating for peace in her homeland.

"The most important thing for me today is peace and freedom in my homeland," she stated, highlighting the need for initiatives like the #WhiteCard to support such causes.

While all her immediate family has relocated to France, Khudadadi remains concerned for many friends and acquaintances still in Afghanistan, particularly as the situation deteriorates for women under Taliban rule.

She continues to engage in various projects aimed at supporting refugees, including conducting French language classes.

Looking forward, Khudadadi has set her sights on the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles, aiming to further her success with a gold medal in para-taekwondo for France.

She is currently awaiting the approval of her naturalization application, which she hopes will be finalized soon.

Khudadadi's journey showcases not only her athletic achievements but also her role as a figure of hope and inspiration for marginalized communities, particularly Afghan women striving for freedom and opportunity.