Afghan girls look for knockout in the ring
Many in this conservative society still consider fighting taboo for women, and the country's first team of female boxers deal with serious threats.
Afghan women practise inside a boxing club in Kabul December 26, 2011. Female boxing is still relatively unusual in most countries, but especially in Afghanistan, where many girls and women still face a struggle to secure an education or work, and activists say violence and abuse at home is common.
A visitor (L) watches as an Afghan woman practises inside a boxing club in Kabul December 28, 2011. Many in this conservative society still consider fighting taboo for women, and the country's first team of female boxers deal with serious threats.
Afghan women practise inside a boxing club in Kabul December 26, 2011.
Afghan women practise inside a boxing club in Kabul December 26, 2011.
Afghan women prepare to leave after a practice session inside a boxing club in Kabul December 26, 2011.
An Afghan woman drinks water during a practice session inside a boxing club in Kabul December 26, 2011.
An Afghan woman practises inside a boxing club in Kabul December 28, 2011.
Afghan women boxers run during a practice session as boys watch from outside a boxing club in Kabul December 28, 2011.
An Afghan woman practises inside a boxing club in Kabul December 28, 2011.
Afghan women share a light moment during a practice session inside a boxing club in Kabul December 28, 2011.
Sadaf Rahimi lifts weights during a practice session in a boxing club in Kabul December 28, 2011.
Shabnam Rahimi, 19, (blue) and her sister Sadaf, 18, (pink) lift weights during a practice session in a boxing club in Kabul December 28, 2011.