Masomah Ali Zada is among the favourites at the Women’s Road Championships of Afghanistan taking place on Sunday in Aigle, Switzerland. But the Olympian and member of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission, says victory is not the ultimate goal.
“For me, it is not important to win. It is bigger than that. It is to give hope to women in Afghanistan and a wakeup call to the world to do something for them. These Championships are symbolic and go beyond the sport itself.”
Afghan women who had been in danger in their country were evacuated to safe countries in Europe, America and Asia thanks to operations led by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and its partners. These women now have the opportunity to compete in their National Championships, being held exceptionally in Switzerland. The event is part of the continuing efforts of the UCI and its partners to support and assist the Afghan Cycling Federation.
Mosamah arrived in France in 2017 as a political refugee and never thought she would have the chance to compete in her National Championships again: “It has been five years since I raced with Afghan women and it will recall memories of when I rode in Afghanistan. The most important at the Championships will be to see that a lot of these women cyclists are now safe, can study and ride their bikes. It is a joy for me to see all these women living in security thanks to the UCI.
“They live in different countries now, but these Championships is bringing them all together. They can meet up again, but most importantly they can be a voice for women in Afghanistan and alert the world. A lot of women are still over there (in Afghanistan), and they have lost all their rights, but they have been forgotten. We need to help them regain their rights and I hope these Championships will change things for women in Afghanistan. It is our responsibility to be a voice for them.”
Based in Lille (France), Masomah trained at the UCI World Cycling Centre before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she competed in the individual time trial as part of the IOC Refugee Team.
After Tokyo she took a year off the bike to concentrate on her studies (she is currently in her first year of a Master in Civil Engineering) but has been cycling again since July. She will compete in Aigle with her two sisters, with her major goal being the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“I have been doing specific training for the Championships of Afghanistan and I try to ride regularly but it is complicated finding time with my studies. Luckily, I know the roads from when I trained at the UCI World Cycling Centre before Tokyo. And this year, in August, I went with my sisters and our coach Thierry (Communal) to see the race route and train there.
“I am so looking forward to participating in this race because I thought I would never be able to take part in an Afghanistan Championships again. It’s a huge joy.”
Another source of joy for the Afghan is her position as the first refugee athlete to be appointed to the IOC’s Athletes Commission.
“I realise how important this is. The IOC have given this opportunity to refugees to have a voice. It is very hard to leave your country, then to find yourself in a new country and start life again from zero. I hope I can be a positive symbol and source of hope to all refugees and especially to refugee athletes who want to participate in the Olympic Games. I want to give them inspiration and motivation.”