These female athletes are braving stigma to lead a cycling drive in Kabul

Aug 20, 2020

Masooma Alizada (L), and Zahra Alizada (R), member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team exercise on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team has been breaking new ground for women's sports and pushing the boundaries of what is - and is not - acceptable for young women in the conservative Muslim country. Under the Taliban in the 1990s, women in Afghanistan were excluded from public life, banned from going to school or stepping outside their home without a male family member. Women's rights have made gains since the hardline Islamist group's ouster in 2001, but observers worry that progress is at risk as gender-based violence persists and women remain under-represented in politics. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: SPORT SOCIETY CYCLING)PICTURE 16 OF 24 FOR WIDER IMAGE STORY 'AFGHANISTAN'S WOMEN RACERS'SEARCH 'AFGHANISTAN CYCLING' FOR ALL IMAGESFOR BEST QUALITY IMAGE ALSO SEE: GF10000144534 - LM2EB3A15ZJ01

Many in the conservative country see cycling as a sport reserved for men. Image: REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Shadi Khan Saif

International correspondent, Reuters

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