“They threw stones at me but I never gave up”

KABUL (SW): 19 years old Masuma Alizadah is a member of the Afghanistan National Cycling team. She said when she first embarked on this journey, she had to convince her family that women could also become good athletes just like men.

Though, her family allowed her to continue with her passion but Masuma said that she still faces many challenges on the streets. She said that whenever she is out cycling, people direct curse words at her.

Masuma Alizadah comes from Shaikh Ali district of northern Parwan province. She has been cycling for the past 6 years now. It has been 4 years since Masuma became a member of the Afghanistan National Cycling team. She is an information technology student, and also serves as a sport coach at a private school.

“I was bicycling in my home town when I was a student at school, but due to social restrictions, I could not do it on the screen”, Masuma says. She said that as a bicyclist, she does not remember a single day without receiving abusive words from people.

Though Masuma is not very optimistic about the future of a female bicyclist in Afghanistan, yet she is an ambitious and goal-oriented girl who is committed to cope with the hardships ahead of her. She recalled that some people have even thrown stones at her but she never gave up.

Masuma Alizadah has participated in women cycling competitions in Kazakhstan and India. She has also participated in the Tour De France race where she earned the second position among the 25 European countries. The 19-year-old Afghan bicyclist wishes to participate in Australian Bicycle Championship. She wants to fly high Afghanistan’s flag.

ENDS