{"id":6804,"date":"2025-07-01T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T00:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/?p=6804"},"modified":"2025-12-10T16:25:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T08:25:54","slug":"riding-against-the-grain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2025\/07\/01\/riding-against-the-grain\/","title":{"rendered":"Riding Against the Grain"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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WHO SHE IS<\/strong><\/p>

Ms Zhala Sarmast was nominated along with her teammates for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in empowering women through sports. Currently a Technical Content and Communications Strategist with SepPure Technologies, she is also a published author with a keen interest in music.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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When Ms Zhala Sarmast was a young girl in Kabul, Afghanistan, she attended the kindergarten at her parents\u2019 workplace, the National Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA). Her early introduction to cycling came through her father, who would cycle to work with her daily. \u201cHe had a small seat at [the] front of the bike [where I would sit],\u201d she recalled. \u201cI have really fond memories of my dad. When he was done with work, we would cycle to get ice cream and then go back home.\u201d<\/p>

Ms Sarmast lost her father to cancer when she was just five, but she continued to carry the love he had for cycling in her own life. But as she grew older, she found that the sight of a female on a bicycle would draw disapproving looks from strangers. \u201cDecades of conflict have significantly influenced Afghan society,\u201d she explained. \u201cThis has contributed to a noticeable tendency toward conservatism among many people in the country, though certainly not all. It was heartbreaking for me to not be able to cycle so easily anymore.\u201d<\/p>

In 2013, however, Ms Sarmast came across an exhibit for the Afghanistan National Women\u2019s Cycling Team. Intrigued, she struck up a conversation with the team and obtained the telephone number of the coach. But her hopes faced a hurdle in the form of her mother, who cited safety concerns. Eventually, her mother relented on the condition that she stay in constant contact. She started out in the Afghanistan Cycling Federation and joined the under-18 cycling team. After consistently doing well in competitions, she joined the national team and has been part of it since.<\/p>

The team has participated in countless competitions. This includes races in the many provinces of Afghanistan \u2014 where the team would be escorted by police cars to ensure its safety \u2014 as well as international competitions and tournaments, including in India, France, Switzerland and elsewhere.<\/p>

The danger in Afghanistan was particularly acute. “I\u2019ve had teammates who were physically attacked. I, too, was pushed off the bike once,\u201d she revealed. Another teammate lives with a lifelong spinal injury after a security guard unleashed a dog on her, causing her to fall.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ms Sarmast in action in Afghanistan (left) and France (right) as part of her country's National Women's Cycling Team.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In 2016, the team, which included Ms Sarmast, was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Ms Sarmast co- authored two books, Redefining the Rules <\/em>and #MyVoice (Vol. 7)<\/em>, where she discussed the awareness their efforts created. \u201cIt was a significant milestone, because it highlighted the challenges that Afghan women were dealing with on a daily basis and the great impact that every action could have,\u201d she explained. \u201cWhen we joined the cycling team, our purpose, for the most part, was to cycle and to become professional cyclists. But somehow we simultaneously became activists as well.”<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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A TRANSFORMATIVE TIME AT YALE-NUS<\/strong><\/p>

Ms Sarmast, the third child of two engineers, attended a summer programme at Yale University, where she met Yale-NUS undergraduates. \u201cThat experience gave me a closer look at Yale-NUS \u2014 Singapore\u2019s first liberal arts college \u2014 and I became deeply interested. The curriculum seemed to be intellectually very engaging, and the community seemed unique \u2013 full of bright, driven and talented students. I was also drawn to the interdisciplinary common curriculum, the incredible faculty, and so much more.\u201d She enrolled in Yale-NUS in 2018.<\/p>

She calls her experience at Yale-NUS \u201ctransformative\u201d. \u201cIt really changed me into a different and, I think, better person,\u201d she shared. \u201cThere are so many layers to the Yale-NUS experience, and that made it more special.” Students often enjoyed having informal chats with friendly professors over coffee or a meal. The fact that it was a residential college facilitated friendships as well. \u201cI feel like when we live in a place with a community for four years, it really turns us into a family. The term \u2018home away from home\u2019 becomes very fitting.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The years spent at Yale-NUS proved a socially and intellectually stimulating time for Ms Sarmast.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ms Sarmast took full advantage of the many opportunities available to her as an undergraduate. During the summer of 2019, she was part of a research project at the office of former Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani, creating a documentary on him and working on his presidential campaign. In subsequent summers, she engaged in a variety of activities: researching \u2018Islam and Sexuality\u2019 with Professor Gretchen Head; interning with the BW Group; and working with Professor Stephen Monroe as a Research Assistant on a study exploring whether qualifications are advantageous to historically marginalised candidates in Afghanistan. In her final year, Ms Sarmast worked with Professor Chan Kiat Hwa on a biochemistry project using peptide hydrogels and attended the Yale Summer Institute in Bioethics.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ms Sarmast and her colleagues from Zawia Media in Kabul (left) and with former Afghan President Dr. Ashraf Ghani (right). <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED<\/strong><\/p>

She remembers the date the Taliban returned to power: 15 August 2021. She had dislocated her knee and taken two semesters off to recover from the injury back home. \u201cI believe that things happen for a reason. If I [had been] in Singapore, my family would [have been] stuck in Afghanistan. My sister and I played critical roles in managing all paperwork to apply for visas and have our family relocate\u201d she said, adding that by September 2021, her family members had left Afghanistan.<\/p>

Ms Sarmast calmly described horrific happenings growing up in Afghanistan, whose political instability stretches back decades, predating not only the Taliban, but even the Soviet invasion of the country in 1979. Growing up, she continuously encountered explosions and bombings. In 2014, a suicide bomber came to a concert held by the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM), founded by her uncle and the only music school in the country. Fortunately, her uncle survived, though he was badly injured. \u201cWhile the past two decades of democratic transition brought significant progress, many influential figures working to create inclusive opportunities often faced violent opposition from extremist forces – and far too many became targets as a result,” said Ms Sarmast.<\/p>

For someone that grew up in an artistic family \u2014 her grandfather established Radio Afghanistan’s Big Orchestra, her uncle is the first Afghan to earn a PhD in music, and she herself has been a member of ANIM\u2019s Guitar Ensemble \u2014 it is painful for her to accept that music is now banned in the country. After the Taliban returned, musical instruments were destroyed in the country, including in her uncle\u2019s music school. \u201cThere are times when the Taliban [conduct] house checks unannounced. If instruments are found inside, it can be extremely dangerous,\u201d she said. Her uncle ultimately evacuated his students and moved his school to Portugal.<\/p>

After years of promoting women\u2019s rights through cycling, it has been a source of heartbreak for Ms Sarmast to see Afghan women being forced to take many steps backwards: women are no longer allowed to work or be seen in public. \u201cEven when they are at home, the curtains must be drawn,\u201d she revealed.<\/p>

As such, members of the cycling team fled Afghanistan, and after many attempts to leave, Ms Sarmast finally returned to Singapore in 2022 and continued her studies at Yale-NUS. Her most recent race with the team, which still represents the country but is based outside of it, was the Afghan Women\u2019s Road Championship in Aigle, Switzerland the same year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ms Sarmast and her colleagues, Dr Mohammad Farahani, Founder and CEO of SepPure Technologies, and Dr Hafiiz Osman, COO of SepPure Technologies.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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THE WHEELS KEEP TURNING<\/strong><\/p>

Having returned to Singapore to complete her degree, Ms Sarmast chose to stay here, and currently works as a Technical Content Strategist for NUS spinoff SepPure Technologies. Established in 2018, the company specialises in the engineering and manufacturing of hollow fibre membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration. Ms Sarmast is also thinking of pursuing her master\u2019s degree. \u201cI am yet to decide whether I want to do something interdisciplinary, where I can focus both on media and science at the same time, or whether I would want to make my concentration more niche,\u201d she revealed.<\/p>

What tops Ms Sarmast\u2019s list of goals, however, is to see more of her mother. \u201cMy dad passed away about 18 years ago, and I went abroad when I was 16.\u201d Her mother and brother live in Germany, while her sisters live in the US. Afghans face visa issues with many countries, making it hard for the family to reunite. \u201cMy mum has been living by herself for several years, so I want to be closer to her,\u201d she shared.\u00a0<\/p>

Ms Sarmast is thankful that at least her family has managed to escape, but is mindful of those who have been left behind. \u201cWe try our best to contribute, one way or another to people and our families in Afghanistan. But there\u2019s only so much we can do.\u201d<\/p>

In the meantime, Ms Sarmast has kept up her cycling routine, and is prepared to join the Afghan national team if a significant event comes up. \u201cI do cycle quite a bit in Singapore,\u201d she shared, adding that she recently went for her first ride with the local Matador racing team, and was surprised by the number of cyclists on the roads early in the morning. \u201c[The teams] all start at 5am sharp, and they’re pretty much done by 10am after having done some really competitive, long rides,\u201d she observed. \u201cWhat I struggle with is having to stop at every traffic light, because that kind of negates the whole point of training to some extent! It\u2019s a bit challenging, for sure, but I’m happy that there are still teams that I can train with in Singapore.\u201d<\/p>

To hear her speak about what she envisages for her future reflects the unquenchable hope Ms Sarmast possesses, despite all she has seen and experienced in her young life. \u201cGrowing up in Afghanistan came with so many challenges, but I feel there was always a collective sense of hope in the country that inspired me,\u201d she said. \u201cI always looked at [the] people, and it always gave me hope.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Main photo by Aik Chen. Other photos provided courtesy of Zhala Sarmast.\u00a0<\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Being part of Afghanistan\u2019s National Women\u2019s Cycling Team earned Ms Zhala Sarmast (Yale-NUS \u201923) a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. She talks about the struggles and difficulties Afghan women continue to face today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6805,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-impact"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6804"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12889,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6804\/revisions\/12889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}