Rohullah Nikpai

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Rohullah Nikpai
روح‌الله نیکپا
Rohullah Nikpai speaking in 2012-cropped.jpg
Rohullah Nikpai speaking in 2012
Personal information
Nationality Afghanistan
Born (1987-06-15) June 15, 1987 (age 34)
Wardak, Afghanistan[1]
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Sport
CountryAfghanistan
SportTaekwondo
Achievements and titles
World finals2011 Gyeongju
Regional finals2008 Luoyang
Olympic finals2008 Beijing
Medal record
Men's taekwondo
Representing  Afghanistan
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Beijing 58 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London 68 kg
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Gyeongju Featherweight
Asian Championships
Silver medal – second place 2012 Ho Chi Minh City Featherweight
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Luoyang Flyweight
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Tashkent Featherweight

Rohullah Nikpai (Dari: روح‌الله نیکپا, born June 15, 1987) is an Afghan taekwondo practitioner and two-time Olympic bronze medalist.

Career[]

Nikpai started his training in Kabul, Afghanistan, at the age of 10.[2] During the civil war over the capital city, his family left the city and settled in one of Iran's many Afghan refugee camps. He soon became a member of the Afghan refugee Taekwondo team after watching martial arts films. He returned to Kabul in 2004 and continued his training at the government provided Olympic training facility. At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar Nikpai competed in the flyweight division where he was defeated by eventual silver medalist Nattapong Tewawetchapong of Thailand in the round of 16.

Nikpai competed in the 58 kg category at the 2008 Summer Olympics, defeating two-time world champion Juan Antonio Ramos of Spain to win the bronze medal, making him Afghanistan's first Olympic medalist in any event. He became a national hero, returning to Afghanistan and getting off the plane to be met with a crowd of many thousands. Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai immediately called to congratulate Nikpai. Karzai also awarded him a house, car, and other luxuries at the government’s expense.[3] "I hope this will send a message of peace to my country after 30 years of war," Nikpai said.[4][5] In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Rohullah entered the 68 kg category, where he was defeated by Iran's Mohammad Bagheri Motamed; he eventually won his bronze medal at the Olympic Games after defeating Martin Stamper of Great Britain.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Rohullah Nikpai Archived 2013-01-28 at archive.today. london2012.com
  2. ^ Nikpai hopes his medal can serve as message of peace ESPN
  3. ^ Amir Shah and Rahim Faiez (2008-08-20). Afghan medalist wins a house, cheers from country. Associated Press
  4. ^ Amir Shah; Rahim Faiez (20 August 2008). "Afghanistan in awe after winning first Olympic medal". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  5. ^ Athlete Biography of Rohullah Nikpai. beijing2008.cn

External links[]

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