Afghanistan’s Paralympic team will not participate in the Tokyo Games next week because they are trapped in the country, the International Paralympic Committee said Monday.
The Taliban have in recent days capped a military victory that saw them bring a swift end to the 20-year war in the country.
Just two Para athletes from Afghanistan were scheduled to compete in the Games – taekwondo competitors Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli.
Khudadadi, 23, was to be the first woman ever to represent Afghanistan at the Paralympics.
But the IPC confirmed on Monday that with the Taliban takeover, the two athletes would no longer be able to travel to Japan.
“Regrettably NPC (National Paralympic Committee) Afghanistan will no longer participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games,” IPC spokesman Craig Spence said.
“Due to the serious ongoing situation in the country, all airports are closed…
