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Masooma Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team is reflected in a mirror at a house in Kabul February 20, 2015. Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team has been breaking new ground for women's sports and pushing the boundaries of what is – and is not – acceptable for young women in the conservative Muslim country.  (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Masooma Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team is reflected in a mirror at a house in Kabul February 20, 2015. Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team has been breaking new ground for women's sports and pushing the boundaries of what is – and is not – acceptable for young women in the conservative Muslim country. Under the Taliban in the 1990s, women in Afghanistan were excluded from public life, banned from going to school or stepping outside their home without a male family member. Women's rights have made gains since the hardline Islamist group's ouster in 2001, but observers worry that progress is at risk as gender-based violence persists and women remain under-represented in politics. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Zahra Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team stands in a house in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Zahra Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team stands in a house in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




A bicycle pump is seen in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

A bicycle pump is seen in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Frozan Rasooli (L), Zahra Alizada (2nd L), and Masooma Alizada (3rd-L) members of  Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team, have breakfast with their coach Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi (R) in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Frozan Rasooli (L), Zahra Alizada (2nd L), and Masooma Alizada (3rd-L) members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team, have breakfast with their coach Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi (R) in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Masooma Alizada (L), Zahra Alizada (C), and Frozan Rasooli (R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team talk with each other before training in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Masooma Alizada (L), Zahra Alizada (C), and Frozan Rasooli (R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team talk with each other before training in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Masooma Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team, exercises in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Masooma Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team, exercises in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Zhala (L), Maryam Sediqi (C) and Malika Yousufi (R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team walk in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Zhala (L), Maryam Sediqi (C) and Malika Yousufi (R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team walk in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Masooma Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team walks with her bicycle in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Masooma Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team walks with her bicycle in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Zahra Alizada (R) and Frozan Rasooli (2nd R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team prepare themselves before training in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Zahra Alizada (R) and Frozan Rasooli (2nd R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team prepare themselves before training in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Zhala, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team, unloads her bicycle as she arrives at a training area on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Zhala, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team, unloads her bicycle as she arrives at a training area on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Masooma Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team eats an orange after training on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Masooma Alizada, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team eats an orange after training on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




A bicycle lies on the ground at a training area on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

A bicycle lies on the ground at a training area on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi (R), the coach of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team, helps Malika Yousufi during training on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi (R), the coach of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team, helps Malika Yousufi during training on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Masooma Alizada (L) and Frozan Rasooli (R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team prepare a bicycle before training on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Masooma Alizada (L) and Frozan Rasooli (R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team prepare a bicycle before training on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi (R), coach of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team talks during training in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi (R), coach of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team talks during training in Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Masooma Alizada (L), and Zahra Alizada (R), member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team exercise on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Masooma Alizada (L), and Zahra Alizada (R), member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team exercise on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Zhala, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team trains with others on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Zhala, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team trains with others on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Zhala, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team exercises on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Zhala, a member of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team exercises on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Frozan Rasooli (L) and Masooma Alizada (R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team train on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Frozan Rasooli (L) and Masooma Alizada (R), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team train on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Malika Yousufi (R), Masooma Alizada (2nd R), Frozan Rasooli (3rd R) and Zahra Alizada (L), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team take a break during a exercise on outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Malika Yousufi (R), Masooma Alizada (2nd R), Frozan Rasooli (3rd R) and Zahra Alizada (L), members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team take a break during a exercise on outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team sit on the back of a car after a training exercise on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team sit on the back of a car after a training exercise on the outskirts of Kabul February 20, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team slide down a hill after exercises on a snowy mountain in Qargha on the outskirts of Kabul March  9, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team slide down a hill after exercises on a snowy mountain in Qargha on the outskirts of Kabul March 9, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team exercise on a snowy mountain in Qargha outskirts of Kabul March 9, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team exercise on a snowy mountain in Qargha outskirts of Kabul March 9, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)




Members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team are seen during an exercise on a snowy mountain in Qargha on the outskirts of Kabul March 9, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Members of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team are seen during an exercise on a snowy mountain in Qargha on the outskirts of Kabul March 9, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)
15 Mar 2015 05:58:00