Seven female taekwondo athletes who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s resurgence have successfully resettled in Melbourne, Australia. Heather Garriock, CEO of Australian Taekwondo, confirmed on Wednesday that the athletes are currently completing their quarantine. While most of the women remain unnamed, none were slated to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. The evacuation was orchestrated through a collaborative effort involving former Australian soccer captain Craig Foster, the Australian government, Australian Taekwondo, and Oceania Taekwondo. Garriock emphasized the high-risk nature of the operation, though specific details were not disclosed. The Taliban has since declared that women will no longer be permitted to participate in sports, further underscoring the urgency of the athletes’ escape. Garriock expressed profound gratitude to the Australian government and Oceania Taekwondo for their pivotal roles in ensuring the women’s safety. ‘The lives of these women were in danger,’ she stated. ‘As a sport, we needed to pull together and do something to help.’ One of the athletes, Fatima Ahmadi, shared her relief and gratitude, saying, ‘I feel so good about arriving in Australia. We are safe here without any danger.’ The resettlement of these athletes follows a broader trend of Afghan female athletes, including members of the women’s soccer team, receiving visas to live in Australia. The Taliban’s return to power in mid-August has led to the erosion of women’s rights across Afghanistan, with many being barred from employment in both public and private sectors.