Afghan Female Boxers Fighting their Way to the 2016 Olympics

Afghan women boxers practice at the Kabul stadium boxing club. A few yellow lamps light up the cavernous, sparsely furnished room where Afghanistan’s young female boxers train, hoping to become good enough to compete in the 2016 Olympics. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)

Afghan women boxers warm up for practice at the Kabul stadium boxing club. The women, who are 18 and older, don’t have much more than determination, and a trainer who runs them through their paces, watches as they spar, corrects their technique, tells them when to jab, how to protect themselves, when to power through with a left and then a right. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)

Afghan female boxers practice at the Kabul Stadium boxing club, Afghanistan. The women, who are 18 and older, don’t have much more than determination, and a trainer who runs them through their paces, watches as they spar, corrects their technique, tells them when to jab, how to protect themselves, when to power through with a left and then a right. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)

Afghan female boxers exercise during a practice session at the Kabul Stadium boxing club, Afghanistan. The women, who are 18 and older, don’t have much more than determination, and a trainer who runs them through their paces, watches as they spar, corrects their technique, tells them when to jab, how to protect themselves, when to power through with a left and then a right. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)

Afghan women boxers arrive for practice at the Kabul Stadium boxing club. A few yellow lamps light up the cavernous, sparsely furnished room where Afghanistan’s young female boxers train, hoping to become good enough to compete in the 2016 Olympics. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)

An Afghan female boxer, left, tries to do pull-ups during a practice session at the Kabul Stadium boxing club, Afghanistan. The Afghanistan National Olympic Committee boxing club has fewer than a dozen women and little money for them. Previously nongovernmental organizations supported them. At that time there were 25 young women who received a salary the equivalent of $100 per month and transportation to and from the Kabul Stadium where they train. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)

An Afghan female boxer, center, jumps rope during a practice session at the Kabul Stadium boxing club. The sportswomen share a camaraderie, laughing and teasing each other until the serious business of training begins. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)

Afghan women boxers practice at the Kabul stadium boxing club. A few yellow lamps light up the cavernous, sparsely furnished room where Afghanistan’s young female boxers train, hoping to become good enough to compete in the 2016 Olympics. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)

An Afghan female boxer prepares for practice at the Kabul Stadium boxing club. The Afghanistan National Olympic Committee boxing club has fewer than a dozen women and little money for them. Previously nongovernmental organizations supported them. At that time there were 25 young women who received a salary the equivalent of $100 per month and transportation to and from the Kabul Stadium where they train. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)

An Afghan female boxer pauses during a practice session at the Kabul Stadium boxing club. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AP Photo)