Tokyo-2020: Afghan athlete evacuated from Kabul joins Paralympics

Hossain Rasouli, one of the two Paralympic athletes evacuated from Afghanistan in an emergency operation last week, has been able to take part in competition at Tokyo’s flagship Olympic Stadium.

Report informs, citing The Guardian, that the 26-year-old, who is primarily a sprinter, competed in the T47 long jump on Tuesday morning. He finished in last place, but recorded a personal best distance of 4m 46 as he took the applause of the competing athletes and delegates.

If Rasouli gave the appearance of being discombobulated, bewildered by the experience, then it was understandable. He flew into the country on Saturday night with his teammate Zakia Khudadadi, who will compete in the taekwondo competition later this week.

Rasouli, who had his left hand amputated after he was wounded in a landmine explosion, had been hoping to compete in the 100m but arrived too late for competition. He then rejected the offer of the 400m saying, according to a Paralympic spokesperson, saying “look, I’m a 100m sprinter, doing 400m is going to be some effort”.

Houdadadi is earmarked to enter competition on Thursday. The taekwondo fighter, if she makes weight, is set to compete in the women’s K44 -49kg category.