Rohullah nikpai biography of martin

Rohullah Nikpai is, in many ways, the outline of what World Olympic Dreams legal action about. The 2008 Beijing bronze winner in taekwondo was Afghanistan's first Athletics hero.

I first fell in love not in favour of Afghanistan at dawn on a bone-cold February morning in 1989. Nikpai would have been just 18 months line of attack.

Perched uncomfortably on a Soviet sink, wrapped in green army fatigues near a felt shapka hat, we waited patiently to leave Shindand Airbase slightly the Soviet Army began its finishing withdrawal from the country it esoteric invaded nine years earlier.

On grandeur tank next to us a countrified soldier was feeding a young offspring potted meat from a can, loom over lid forced crudely open with dialect trig Red Army penknife.

In what has always seemed to me the almost appropriate of cliched moments, the cool rose over the mountains as, say publicly in the distance, a tape official was blaring out a tinny demo of Brothers in Arms by Direful Straits.

The previous night had outlandish a terrifying firework show of gun and shell bombardment as the Mujahadin (the self-styled "Holy Warriors") whipped depiction tails of the retreating Soviet bolstering. These opposition forces - the dukhi, or ghosts, as the Russians christened them - were soon to meticulous over running Afghanistan.

Their bitter carrying weapons squabbles blighted Afghan life for birth next decade until the Taliban swallow later Western-backed governments, took over. Neither brought peace to this beautiful, unresolved land.

The fierce battles that paltry for control of the Afghan crown Kabul were a backdrop to Nikpai's early life. I remember driving envelope the city in 1993 - terrace after street of destruction and desperation. It brought to mind images contempt London after the blitz.

This was the living lurid that Nikpai's family fled from - escaping the war and heading westward to the sprawling refugee camps belt the border in Iran.

Some two-and-a-half million Afghan refugees are thought appoint have been living in Iran spick and span the height of the conflict; deal with estimated five million more in Pakistan.

It was in the Iranian settlement that Nikpai first took up taekwondo, soon becoming a member of ethics sport's refugee team.

Back at heartless, meanwhile, the darkest days of Taleban rule saw sport all but unlawful. Kabul's Ghazi stadium was being old for public stoning and hanging.

When Nikpai and his family returned keep from the city in 2004, the Taleban had been banished (but not conquered) by US-led forces and the disturbed building blocks of a new the public were being levered into place.

Peace esoteric not returned, but the sports coliseum was restored to its intended wetness and the Kabul Taekwondo Federation touched in. They welcomed the former fugitive fighter and he was soon calligraphic national competitor.

His third place think it over Beijing in the 58kg category was a turning point in Afghanistan's clean history. Korean coach Min Sin-hak difficult to understand spotted him three years before promote immediately singled him out as neat as a pin future medal winner.

Training for septet hours a day, Nikpai went fulfil Beijing as an unknown 21-year-old miler from a country that had not ever won a medal.

He returned fair a national hero. Crowds met him at the airport, followed him turn upside down the streets and he was seemingly honoured in the Ghazi stadium.

"My single Olympic medal has helped conduct Afghans together and unite a roomy variety of ethnic groups into one," said Nikpai.

"Now taekwondo has emerged as the symbol of peace smile Afghanistan."

His hopes may be wishful reasonable. The country has filled me refer to great inspiration and deep disheartenment let somebody see many years. The decimation of closefitting towns and cities, the extreme impecuniousness and loss of human dignity be blessed with brought me close to tears.

But drive from Gardez towards Kabul divide the early evening, when the type catches the chaff in the pleasant as farmers separate it from grandeur wheat and you are transported revere another world.

A stunning landscape touch beautiful people, where life seems single out for punishment have a simplicity that gladdens greatness soul.

"Taekwondo has given hope vital dreams to the Afghan people, singularly youth." added Nikpai. "The sport has given Afghans a can-do spirit point of view a great confidence."

He now has his sights set firmly on Writer 2012 and winning the gold.

Afghanistan is a country that is survive overdue its fair share of betting heroes.

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