The Wushu Federation of Afghanistan has officially announced the participation of its national athletes in the 20th Asian Games, to be hosted by Japan in September this year.
Kabul 24: This marks an important moment for Afghan wushu as the country’s athletes gear up to compete on the continental stage.According to federation officials, the selection trials for the Sanda (combat) category were successfully completed in Kabul last week.
After intense competition, four talented athletes earned their spots on the national team: Shahzadeh in the 56kg weight class, Hamed Sharifi in the 65kg category, Mohammad Khaled Hotak in the 70kg division, and Jafar Soltani in the 75kg category.
These selections were based on the athletes’ technical skills, physical fitness, and performance during the domestic trials. Federation leaders emphasized that the chosen competitors represent the best talent currently available and are expected to deliver strong performances against Asia’s top wushu nations.
In addition, officials stated that one more athlete in the Taolu (forms) category will be selected shortly through technical evaluation and added to the team roster.
This will complete the Afghan wushu delegation for the multi-sport event.Experienced coaches Mohammad Mohafez Vafa and Ehsan Ahmad Karokhi will accompany and guide the team in the Sanda and Taolu disciplines respectively. Known for their expertise, the coaches have already begun designing intensive training programs focused on strength, speed, technique, tactics, and mental preparation.The 20th Asian Games will bring together thousands of athletes from across Asia, providing Afghan wushu practitioners with a valuable platform to showcase their abilities on an international level.
For the athletes, this is more than just a competition — it represents national pride and resilience after years of challenges in Afghan sports.
The federation, with support from the Ministry of Sports and other relevant institutions, is working to ensure the team receives proper training facilities, conditioning support, and logistical preparations for the journey to Japan.
As the games approach, the selected athletes have entered a serious preparation phase. Their goal is to reach peak performance and achieve the best possible results for Afghanistan.
This participation is expected to inspire a new generation of young athletes across the country and highlight the progress of wushu in Afghanistan.
The entire sports community is now watching with hope and excitement as the national wushu team prepares to fly the Afghan flag at the Asian Games.
