When 18-year old Manizha Talash joined a small but ardent breakdancing community in Afghanistan a few months ago, she was the only woman. In that short time, however, she's already set her sights on representing her country in one of the latest sports to be added to the program for the Summer Olympics.
Dressed in black from head to ankle head for training, Talash wouldn't look out of place in a dance studio anywhere in the world. But in Afghanistan's conservative, Islamic society, she stands out for being courageous enough to pursue her dream.
"I want to be different," Talash told Reuters as she waited for the start of a session at a mixed martial arts center in Kabul. "I want to become a good role model in Afghanistan."
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