The Afghan Sports Administration and National Olympic Committee have finalized Afghanistan’s participation in the 20th Asian Games in Japan, with the first group of Afghan national athletes set to leave Kabul for Tokyo today.
As reported by IRAF, Mohammad Bawar Hotak, acting head of the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee, said the country’s participation in the 20th Asian Games in Japan had been finalized following consultations between the leadership of the sports administration and the Olympic authorities.
According to Hotak, the decision was made to select the national delegation from among active athletes inside Afghanistan, with the aim of sending a coordinated team to the major continental sporting event.
Hotak said the necessary coordination had been carried out with the country’s sports federations and that Afghanistan’s delegation would include athletes from various disciplines. The Asian Games are among the continent’s most important sporting events and provide a major platform for assessing the performance of participating countries at the continental level.
Afghanistan’s Wushu Team to Compete in Japan
Meanwhile, officials from the Wushu Federation said the national Wushu team would leave Kabul today, Monday, September 14, to compete in the 2026 Asian Games.
The team has completed the selection process as well as training camps and technical and physical preparations ahead of its participation in the continental competition.
Federation officials said the preparation program included tactical training, physical conditioning and managing competition pressure, adding that the national athletes would travel to Japan in good physical and technical condition.
Significance of Afghanistan’s Participation
Despite domestic restrictions and challenges, Afghanistan’s participation in this edition of the Asian Games reflects efforts to maintain sporting activities and the country’s presence in international competitions.
The event also provides an important opportunity to assess the capabilities of Afghan athletes and strengthen Afghanistan’s position in the Asian sporting arena.
