![Sadaf Rahimi (R) trains inside a boxing club in Kabul February 13, 2012. In a country wrenched by decades of war, perhaps it is no surprise that three Afghan athletes going to Sadaf Rahimi (R) trains inside a boxing club in Kabul February 13, 2012. In a country wrenched by decades of war, perhaps it is no surprise that three Afghan athletes going to](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CXNH0X/sadaf-rahimi-r-trains-inside-a-boxing-club-in-kabul-february-13-2012-in-a-country-wrenched-by-decades-of-war-perhaps-it-is-no-surprise-that-three-afghan-athletes-going-to-the-london-summer-olympic-a-taekwondo-male-duo-including-beijing-bronze-medallist-rohullah-nikpai-and-teenage-female-boxer-sadaf-rahimi-followed-fighting-sports-to-match-story-afghanistan-olympics-photo-taken-february-13-2012-reutersomar-sobhani-afghanistan-tags-sport-boxing-olympics-2CXNH0X.jpg)
Sadaf Rahimi (R) trains inside a boxing club in Kabul February 13, 2012. In a country wrenched by decades of war, perhaps it is no surprise that three Afghan athletes going to
![Gender rights: The female Afghan boxers who found sanctuary in Spain | Spain | EL PAÍS English Edition Gender rights: The female Afghan boxers who found sanctuary in Spain | Spain | EL PAÍS English Edition](https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/0CEXINeFfa3t6Rppe6KpSCFLlwQ=/1960x0/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/Z6SEUPQ3VMDBQKVQ4EWKRB2ROE.jpg)
Gender rights: The female Afghan boxers who found sanctuary in Spain | Spain | EL PAÍS English Edition
![Rohullah Nikpai (R) trains inside a taekwondo club in Kabul February 15, 2012. In a country wrenched by decades of war, perhaps it is no surprise that three Afghan athletes going to Rohullah Nikpai (R) trains inside a taekwondo club in Kabul February 15, 2012. In a country wrenched by decades of war, perhaps it is no surprise that three Afghan athletes going to](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D0R80J/rohullah-nikpai-r-trains-inside-a-taekwondo-club-in-kabul-february-15-2012-in-a-country-wrenched-by-decades-of-war-perhaps-it-is-no-surprise-that-three-afghan-athletes-going-to-the-london-summer-olympic-a-taekwondo-male-duo-including-beijing-bronze-medallist-nikpai-and-teenage-female-boxer-sadaf-rahimi-followed-fighting-sports-to-match-story-afghanistan-olympics-photo-taken-february-15-2012-reutersomar-sobhani-afghanistan-tags-politics-sport-olympics-taekwondo-2D0R80J.jpg)
Rohullah Nikpai (R) trains inside a taekwondo club in Kabul February 15, 2012. In a country wrenched by decades of war, perhaps it is no surprise that three Afghan athletes going to
Razia's Ray of Hope - Sadaf Rahimi was just 17 years old when she boxed for Team Afghanistan at the 2012 London Olympics. She was the first female boxer invited to those
![Sadaf Rahimi lifts weights during a practice session in a boxing club in Kabul December 28, 2011. Female boxing is still relatively unusual in most countries, but especially in Afghanistan, where many Sadaf Rahimi lifts weights during a practice session in a boxing club in Kabul December 28, 2011. Female boxing is still relatively unusual in most countries, but especially in Afghanistan, where many](https://c8.alamy.com/compfr/2d0e8e9/sadaf-rahimi-lifts-weights-during-a-practice-session-in-a-boxing-club-in-kabul-december-28-2011-female-boxing-is-still-relatively-unusual-in-most-countries-but-especially-in-afghanistan-where-many-girls-and-women-still-face-a-struggle-to-secure-an-education-or-work-and-activists-say-violence-and-abuse-at-home-is-common-many-in-this-conservative-society-still-consider-fighting-taboo-for-women-and-the-countrys-first-team-of-female-boxers-deal-with-serious-threats-picture-taken-december-28-2011-to-match-feature-afghanistan-boxing-reuters-ahmad-masood-afghanistan-tags-sport-boxin-2d0e8e9.jpg)