Afghanistan at the 2004 Summer Paralympics

Infobox Paralympics Afghanistan
games=2004 Summer
competitors= 2
sports= 2
flagbearer=
officials=
rank= 76

Afghanistan participated in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece. It was reportedly the country's first "official" appearance at the Paralympic Gamescite web |last=De Jong |first=Antoinette |title=Disabled Afghan athletes ready for Paralympics 2004 |publisher=Afghan Amputee Bicyclists for Rehabilitation and Recreation |date=2004 |url=http://aabrar.org/article.htm |accessdate=2008-08-08 ] , although two cyclists had already competed for Afghanistan in 1996. The delegation consisted of two competitors, Mareena Karim and Qaher Hazrat.cite web |title= Athlete Profile - HAZRAT Qaher |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |date=April 8 2004 |url=http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/Paralympic_Games/Past_Games/Athens_2004/Athletes_Profiles/athlete_three.html |accessdate=2008-08-08 ] [ [http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/Sports/Results/paralympics_search.html?npc=AFG&gender=all&medal=all&sport=all&games=all Afghanistan at the Paralympics] , website of the International Paralympic Committee] A third competitor, runner Sharifa Ahmadi, was registered for the games but did not participate.cite web |title= ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games - Athletics - Women's 100 m T46 |publisher= International Paralympic Committee |date=2008 |url=http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/Sports/Results/paralympics_results.html?sport=athletics&competition=2004PG&gender=f&discipline=&event=100+m&eclass=T46 |accessdate=2008-08-08 ]

Karim was a fourteen-year-old runner who competed in the 100 metre T46 event. Karim's feet were amputated when she was an infant after they were severely burned. She began proper training only two months before the games. [cite news |last=Hudson |first=Elizabeth |title=Paralympic diary: Day three |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 September 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/3671560.stm |accessdate=2008-08-08 ] In the first round of the 100 metre race, she finished last with a time of 18.85 seconds and did not advance to the next round.

The other team member was twenty-two-year-old cyclist Qaher Hazrat, who lost both legs below the knee after stepping on a land mine in 1996 during the country's civil war. Hazrat competed in the mens' road race/time trial LC3 event and, with 26 points, finished last out of fourteen cyclists. [cite web |title=ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games - Cycling (Road) - Men's Road Race / Time Trial Bicycle LC3 |publisher= International Paralympic Committee |date=2008 |url=http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/Sports/Results/paralympics_results.html?sport=cycling&competition=2004PG&gender=m&discipline=Road&event=Road+Race+%2F+Time+Trial+Bicycle&eclass=LC3 |accessdate=2008-08-08 ]

Karim and Hazrat trained at Kabul's National Stadium under Sultan Mahmood, who had participated in the 1980 Summer Olympics as a wrestler.

ee also

*Afghanistan at the Paralympics
*Afghanistan at the 2004 Summer Olympics

External links

* [http://www.paralympic.org International Paralympic Committee]

References