Rohullah Nikpai

AOPNEWS | January 5, 2016

Rohullah Nikpai, the Taekwondo practitioner who won Afghanistan’s only medals in the Olympic Games told Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) in an interview published today that he had left Afghanistan in protest because of the “Taekwondo Federation’s discriminatory attitude.” Nikpai didn’t provide exact details to PAN, however, in the past, other media oulets had reported that the athlete had claimed that Taekwondo Federation officials had stolen money designated for athletes, and that the National Olympic Committee, then headed by Fahim Hashimi, failed to intervene and help the athletes. Hashimi was replaced by Bawar Hotak five months ago.

Nikpai told PAN that he recently returned because he believes things have improved and he is satisfied with the current state of affairs in the Taekwondo Federation.  As for his future plans, Nikpai told PAN that he plans to take part in a series of competitions in the near future to win more medals for his country.

Nikpai initially made history when he brought home Afghanistan’s first ever Olympic medal in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Four years, later he won another bronze medal in the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games.