Afghanistan’s national taekwondo team returned to Kabul on Monday evening after competing in the eighth edition of the World Taekwondo Federation President’s Cup 2026 in Lahore, Pakistan, winning one bronze medal and securing valuable Asian Games ranking points.
The tournament, held from Aug. 17 to 21, brought together athletes from more than 40 Asian countries and was classified as a G3-level event.
Afghanistan fielded nine athletes, including six competitors in the kyorugi discipline and three in poomsae.
Bronze for Mohammadgol Mohammadi in Poomsae
Mohammadgol Mohammadi secured Afghanistan’s first and only medal of the tournament, finishing third in the poomsae competition after two successful performances.
His bronze medal was the Afghan delegation’s main achievement in Lahore.
Ubaidullah Shirazi also received the title of “best performance” in the poomsae section for his execution of the required forms. The Afghanistan Taekwondo Federation described the result as an indication of improving technical standards among the country’s athletes.
Afghan Fighters Earn Asian Ranking Points
Afghanistan’s kyorugi competitors did not win medals but collected important points toward the Asian Games rankings.
Hekmatullah Zain recorded the strongest performance among the Afghan fighters, defeating opponents from Pakistan and Uzbekistan in the under-68-kilogram category.
Omid Sahak won his opening bout in the under-87-kilogram category before losing to an Iranian opponent.
According to Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee, both Zain and Sahak earned 7.5 Asian Games ranking points. The points could strengthen Afghanistan’s position as it seeks qualification for the Asian Games in Nagoya.
Team Welcomed Back in Kabul
A reception for the Afghan delegation was held in Kabul in the presence of the head of the Olympic Affairs Department, officials from the national taekwondo federation and a number of supporters of the sport.
Afghan sports officials described the team’s results as a positive step toward the development of taekwondo in the country and highlighted the athletes’ potential.
The competition also provided Afghan athletes with international experience and ranking opportunities. Sports experts in Afghanistan say participation in G3-level events can help athletes gain international experience while collecting points that could prove important ahead of future Asian Games and global competitions.
