"Some people in our society are against sport for women," said Ahdyar. "They want us only to stay at home, but I disagree with them; God gave the same rights to men and women, that is why I don't care what they say."

Ahdyar said she was lucky to have the support of her family.

"I'm so proud of my daughter representing Afghanistan at the Beijing Olympics," said mother Majan Ahdyar. "She is so fond of her sport, she even exercises at night outside in the street because our house is not big enough."

Image: Ahadyar, 19, (left) with her mother Mahjan (back), sisters Masooda (2nd left) and Hameeda.

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