The photo shows a group of Afghan girls practicing Wushu, a traditional Chinese martial art. The girls can be seen stretching and bending and slashing through the air with shiny swords on a snowy mountaintop to the west of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Women’s sports are severely restricted in the country, which makes this Shaolin Wushu club for girls a rare exception.
Sima Azimi, the 20-year-old leader of the club, says Wushu teaches self-defense, and it's equally effective for body and soul.