Nigara Shaheen, a judoka from the Refugee Olympic Team, has bowed out of the women’s -63kg judo event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, losing to Prisca Awiti Alcaraz on Tuesday, July 30.
In her second Olympic appearance, the 31-year-old Shaheen faced a tough contest against Awiti Alcaraz, who secured victory with an Ippon in the round of 32. Awiti Alcaraz, who represents Mexico and trains in London. Placed fifth at the World Championships last year, demonstrating her experience and skill in the sport.
Shaheen, born in Afghanistan and now based in Canada, has had a remarkable journey. She previously lived in Pakistan before moving to Canada and made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, competing in the judo mixed team and the women’s -70kg events. For Paris 2024, she competed in the -63kg category, showing her versatility and dedication to the sport.
Despite the loss, Shaheen remains an integral part of the Refugee Olympic Team, which consists of 37 members, including five judokas. She expressed a deep sense of belonging and camaraderie with her teammates.
“I found a family with the Refugee Olympic Team,” Shaheen shared with Olympics.com ahead of the event. “Our journey from Tokyo to Paris, you can see that there’s so many differences that we relate with. We are a team and a family. We celebrate New Year together, we eat together, we all get together and celebrate.”
Reflecting on her experiences, Shaheen added, “I have learned a lot throughout my journey from Tokyo to Paris. I thank God I got the chance to compete a lot. Even with every loss, I learn something new.”
Shaheen’s defeat to the experienced Awiti Alcaraz at the Champ-de-Mars Arena was a moment of learning and growth. Her resilience and positive attitude exemplify the spirit of the Refugee Olympic Team. Which aims to provide hope and inspiration through sports.
Shaheen will continue to represent the Refugee Olympic Team in the mixed team event on August 3. Where she hopes to bring her experiences and lessons learned to the competition.
The Paris 2024 Olympics continue to highlight incredible stories of perseverance and dedication, with athletes like Nigara Shaheen inspiring the world with their journey and resilience.
Leave a Reply