Rohullah Nikpai facts for kids
Nikpa speaking in 2012 in Kabul, Afghanistan
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | Afghan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 15, 1987 Maidan Wardak, Afghanistan |
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| Residence | Kabul, Afghanistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Afghanistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Taekwondo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World finals | 2011 Gyeongju | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regional finals | 2008 Luoyang | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic finals | 2008 Beijing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Rohullah Nikpa (born June 15, 1987) is a famous taekwondo athlete from Afghanistan. He has won two bronze medals at the Olympic Games. This makes him the only Afghan athlete to ever win an Olympic medal.
In 2023, Rohullah Nikpa became the coach for New Zealand's national taekwondo team.
Contents
Becoming an Olympic Champion
Rohullah Nikpa is from the Hazara ethnic group. He started learning taekwondo when he was 10 years old in Iran. At that time, his family was living as refugees in Iran because of the civil war in Afghanistan.
He was inspired to join the Afghan Taekwondo team after watching martial arts movies. In 2004, he moved back to Afghanistan. He continued his training at a special Olympic facility in Kabul.
First Olympic Medal in Beijing
Rohullah Nikpa competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He was in the 58 kg weight class. He won a bronze medal by defeating Juan Antonio Ramos from Spain. This was a huge moment for Afghanistan. It was the first time an athlete from Afghanistan had ever won an Olympic medal.
When he returned home, he was a national hero. Thousands of people came to greet him at the airport. The President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, called to congratulate him. The government also gave him a house, a car, and other gifts.
Rohullah Nikpa said he hoped his win would bring a message of peace to his country. Afghanistan had been through many years of war.
Second Olympic Medal in London
Rohullah Nikpa also competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. This time, he was in the 68 kg weight class. He won another bronze medal after defeating Martin Stamper from Great Britain.
His achievements showed the world the strength and spirit of Afghan athletes.
Images for kids
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A robot illustration, linking to a children's encyclopedia page about Rohullah Nikpa.
See also
- Afghanistan at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Afghanistan at the 2012 Summer Olympics
