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Seven female taekwondo athletes have resettled in Melbourne, according to a sports organisation official. They left Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
The women are expected to complete quarantine this week, according to Australian Taekwondo CEO Heather Garriock. There were no female Afghan taekwondo athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics, despite the fact that most of the participants were not named.
Craig Foster, a former Australian national soccer captain and humanitarian campaigner, coordinated with the Australian government, Australian Taekwondo, and Oceania Taekwondo on a high-risk evacuation from Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control, according to Garriock. There were no more information about the evacuation offered.
Taliban leaders have since stated that women will not be permitted to participate in sports.
“We’re delighted the ladies are safe and appreciative to the Australian government and Oceania Taekwondo for their support in getting them out of Afghanistan,” Garriock said. “These women’s lives were in jeopardy.
“We needed to get together as a sport and do something to help. The taekwondo community in Australia is tremendously welcoming, and these ladies will be warmly welcomed.”
Garriock, who represented Australia in women’s soccer at two Olympics, sought Foster for assistance in transferring the athletes to Australia.
“Craig is an ardent supporter for multiculturalism and refugees, so it was only logical that I reached out to him first to talk about what needed to be done,” Garriock said.
Fatima Ahmadi, one of the athletes, was cited as thanking everyone who helped with their evacuation.
“I’m so excited to be here in Australia. She stated, “We are completely safe here and in no danger.” “Australian Taekwondo has been quite beneficial to us, and I am grateful for that. We are now looking forward to repaying your kindness by doing something helpful for Australia.”
Hundreds of athletes have apparently been granted visas to reside in Australia, including members of Afghanistan’s women’s soccer team.
In mid-August, Afghanistan’s Taliban reclaimed power. The new Taliban government has recently issued many ordinances restricting women’s and girls’ rights. Women have been advised to stay at home from occupations in the public and private sectors across Afghanistan in several locations.
