Manama, Bahrain, October 25, 2025: They lost in their opening rounds in boxing and Muay Thai, but two pairs of sisters from Afghanistan struck a resounding blow for women’s sports in their country simply by turning up at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.
Habiba and Mahboba Muzafari, 14 and 17 years, and Sokaina and Sania Haidari, 15 and 16 years are the only four girls in the 43-strong athlete squad from Afghanistan. They were all knocked out in the preliminaries by more canny opponents, yet they were all smiles for they believed they had carried the flag hgh for female representation in sports back in Afghanistan.
“The Taliban prevents women from taking part in sports, going to school, and just being part of society. These girls proved that women from Afghanistan should be given the opportunity to proudly take part in sport and represent their country,” said Mohammad Haidari, manager of the Muay Thai girls’ team, and father of Sokaina and Sania.
The fundamental Taliban government has placed severe restrictions on women and girls in the country after sweeping into power in 2021. They have banned girls over the age of 12 from getting an education, severely restricted job options for women and recently removed books written by women from universities.
Last month, the Taliban imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, slamming the door shut on thousands of girls trying to study online and graduate from international universities.
“It is really bad at home,” says Mahboba, the eldest of the quartet. “Luckily all of us live in Australia, but we are sad for all our fellow-women who are stuck in Afghanistan.”
Sokaina, the sole boxer among them (the rest competed in Muay Thai), is glad her dad immigrated to Australia with the family. “We live in Adelaide, and I’m really grateful for that. Life is so free and we’re not worried at all. We can do what we want. We still wear the hijab, and this is not an issue, as we have been accepted by Australians.”
The National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan had got in touch with manager Haidari and told him to pick a squad of girls for the Bahrain Games living in exile in Australia.
The Afghanistan NOC President Dr. Hafizullah Wali Rahimi is also living overseas – in Canada.
“My team was funded by the Afghanistan NOC, but I paid for my ticket,” reveals Haidari. “It is sad that girls back in Afghanistan who want to take part in sports and represent the country are not allowed to do so. They should have the right to do so, but they are banned from taking part in sport.
“These girls are carrying the Afghanistan flag proudly in Bahrain. Let’s hope the Taliban will change their policies and let women be part of society back home,” he added.
For now, it is girls like Mahboba and company who can compete under the black, red and green flag of Afghanistan without fear of being victimised. “We love our country, but we have now found a new home in Australia,” says Sokaina.
