"When I was small I used to run in my house and watch my brother who was doing body building. I kept my exercising secret even from my neighbours because of the Taliban," she said at the Kabul sports stadium where the Taliban held public executions until they were ousted from power by US-led and Afghan forces in 2001.

The Taliban banned women from working or leaving the home without a male relative. Girls could not play outdoors and sport was out of the question.

But while some things have improved for women since 2001 and Afghanistan now has female athletes, a women's soccer team, even boxers, many in this deeply conservative society remain hostile.

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