Hangzhou, China, September 21, 2023: Afghanistan’s appearance at the Team Welcome Ceremony in the Athletes’ Village of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Thursday afternoon drew a large media presence.
TV cameras and photographers turned out in force after the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee announced recently that 17 female athletes would be competing in Hangzhou, including a women’s sports team for the first time, in volleyball. The other sports are cycling and athletics.
However, the delegation that arrived in Flag Plaza was all-male – and Chef de Mission Khwaja Hashmatullah Rasa explained why.
“Not at the moment. They will arrive today and tomorrow,” Rasa said.
The women’s volleyball team, currently training in Iran, will play their first game of the competition against Kazakhstan on September 30, so they will have plenty of time to finetune their game.
“We hope to have a good competition,” he said.
“In total we have 82 athletes in 16 sports disciplines, and our female athletes who coordinate with the OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) will participate in the Asian Games.
“The girls are coming here to participate in the Asian Games just like the men – as athletes.”
When asked if Afghanistan had produced another Rohullah Nikpai – a two-time taekwondo bronze medallist at the Olympic Games – Rasa replied: “Rohullah Nikpai is now coach, but we have new players in taekwondo and we hope they get some achievement and medals from the Asian Games.”
Looking to the future about women’s participation in international sports events, Rasa said the sports authorities were waiting for the situation to improve back home as they contemplate “how we can make a role as an Islamic country - and after they can have activity like school and sports.”
Afghanistan was one of four NOCs taking part in the Team Welcome Ceremony, along with the SEA trio of Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore.
“The welcome ceremony was very excellent, with the mayor of Hangzhou village, and the hospitality was very exciting. All the people coming and gathering for the welcome ceremony from many NOCs and it was just a wonderful event today,” said Rasa.
