Zakia kadadi won taekwon do bronze Zakia kadadi made history on Thursday by becoming the first athlete from the refugee paralympic team to win a medal at the Paralympics kadadi originally from Afghanistan but now living and training in France won bronze in the Taekwondo women's k44 minus 47 kgam category in Paris this medal is fantastic for me but also for all the women in Afghanistan and all the refugees she told reporters we are not giving up on equality and freedom in my country kadadi had lost to usbekistan Zen isakova in the quarterfinals of the grand P but then defeated turkey's nurana kiny in their rapage match guaranteeing her a bronze medal after her next opponent Morocco's nth withdrew from the competition the 25-year-old made her paralympic debut in Tokyo 3 years ago having fled Cabell amid the taliban's Ascension to power initially unable to leave Afghanistan she was forced into hiding and continued to train for the par Olympics from her back Garden it was only after a viral video plea that Cuda was able to escape the country and continue her sporting career Paris 2024 par Olympics Taekwondo women k44 minus 47 kg bronze medal contest Grand P Paris France August 29th 2024 Zakia kadadi of refugee par Olympic team celebrates with her trainer after being declared winner following the withdrawal of Nell larif of Morocco Reuters slis mikova TPX images of the day kadadi celebrates with her coach hey beari majas mikova Reuters I was told that if I stayed the Taliban would come and take me because I was a female athlete disobeying their rules she told CNN sport ahead of the Paris games I had only one choice to leave