Nigara Shaheen finally feels the freedom to fully prepare for an Olympic Games.
Nigara Shaheen is shown during her judo training at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in Toronto on Jan. 19, 2023. Shaheen has been named to the Olympic refugee team for the Paris Games.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-UNHCR/Cole Burstonfor a year and a half, was named to the International Olympic Committee's refugee team Thursday.
“The difference is, last time, it was during the pandemic and I didn't have a lot of good opportunities or facilities to train better for the tournament. This time, fortunately, I'm in Canada. Shaheen grew up in Pakistan and discovered judo at age 11. She returned to Afghanistan at age 18 to a country that frowned upon women mixing with men in combat sports.
“At the same time, I also got a lot of negative comments and negative feedback from my representation in the Olympics. It was not safe for me to continue living in Pakistan and at the same time I could not go back to Afghanistan. “They gave me options and Canada was on top of my list because I knew I can train there and I can contribute to Canadian society,” Shaheen said.
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Toronto judo athlete Nigara Shaheen named to Olympic refugee team for ParisNigara Shaheen finally feels the freedom to fully prepare for an Olympic Games.
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Toronto judo athlete Nigara Shaheen named to Olympic refugee team for ParisNigara Shaheen finally feels the freedom to fully prepare for an Olympic Games.
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Toronto judo athlete Nigara Shaheen named to Olympic refugee team for ParisNigara Shaheen finally feels the freedom to fully prepare for an Olympic Games.
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Toronto athlete named to Olympic refugee team for ParisTORONTO — A judo athlete who trains in Toronto has been named to the Olympic refugee team for the Paris Games. Nigara Shaheen was among 36 athletes from 11 different countries introduced by the International Olympic Committee on Thursday.
Read more »
Toronto athlete named to Olympic refugee team for ParisTORONTO — A judo athlete who trains in Toronto has been named to the Olympic refugee team for the Paris Games. Nigara Shaheen was among 36 athletes from 11 different countries introduced by the International Olympic Committee on Thursday.
Read more »
Toronto athlete named to Olympic refugee team for ParisTORONTO — A judo athlete who trains in Toronto has been named to the Olympic refugee team for the Paris Games. Nigara Shaheen was among 36 athletes from 11 different countries introduced by the International Olympic Committee on Thursday.
Read more »