"Our father was the only one who believed in us from the very beginning. He enrolled us in private karate classes because it wasn't offered at school. We never trained in Afghanistan, but with his support we were able to practise in Iran, join the [Afghan] national team, and compete internationally, she says."
"Karate became a shared language for us, one that strengthened not only our physical power but also our spirit and will, adds Maryam."
"In a society that grows more patriarchal every day, having a father who unconditionally supports his daughters is truly a great blessing, says Mandana."
"That day I realised karate wasn't just a sport for us, but also about family and support, says Mandana."
Shokoufeh Jafari and her sisters fled Afghanistan for Iran in 1998 when the Taliban targeted families of former military personnel. The sisters — Shokoufeh, 29; Maryam, 23; Mandana, 20 — built a life in Shiraz shaped by Kyokushin karate. Training began at ages 13, seven and nine, supported by their father, a former military officer who enrolled them in private classes not offered at school. The sisters joined the Afghan national team, competed internationally, and won at the 2019 Asian Kyokushin Karate Championship in Shiraz, their first tournament together. Shokoufeh now referees provincial competitions and teaches students, combining resilience, family support and sporting passion.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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