Hidden muscle: Afghanistan's female national powerlifting team

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  Afghan weightlifting coach Shahpoor supervises young women during a training session.

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  An Afghanistan national powerlifting team member takes part in a training session.

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  An Afghanistan national powerlifting team member poses after training.

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  An Afghanistan national powerlifting team members take part in a training session.

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  Afghan weightlifting coach Shahpoor supervises a young woman during a training session.

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  Nineteen year old Afghanistan national powerlifting team member Lida Saeedi.

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  Lida Saeedi takes part in a training session.

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  Lida Saeedi is watched by other team members in the gym.

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  Twenty-one year old Afghanistan national powerlifting team member Sadya Ayubi looks on as she and others take part in a training session.

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  Twenty-one year old Afghanistan national powerlifting team member Sadya Ayubi.

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  Afghanistan national powerlifting team members leave after a training session.

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After years of oppression under the Taliban Afghan women are slowly venturing to female-only gyms in big cities which are mostly in hidden venues. There are around 30 young women in Afghanistan's national powerlifting team.

International Women's Day falls on March 8.

* AFP