FILE – A volunteer holds up country’s sign for Afghan men’s only team during a welcoming ceremony at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)
HANGZHOU, China — In a stark contrast at the Asian Games, Afghanistan is sending two different teams due to the Taliban’s ban on women’s participation in sports. The first team is composed of 130 male athletes who will compete in 17 different sports, including volleyball, judo, and wrestling. This team represents the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. On the other hand, the second team, under the flag of the previous elected government, includes 17 women and athletes from the Afghan diaspora worldwide.
Hafizullah Wali Rahimi, the president of Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee before the Taliban takeover, stated that the athletes from the diaspora are participating because of their love for sports and their desire to keep politics separate from sports. While the male athletes have already arrived in Hangzhou, the female athletes are expected to join soon. Rahimi mentioned that the women’s team consists of a volleyball team training in Iran, cyclists from Italy, and an athletics representative from Australia.
The Taliban’s stringent measures towards women’s rights and freedom have drawn international criticism and isolated Afghanistan further. The regime has imposed bans on women’s participation in public life, attending school, and working, resulting in a humanitarian crisis. Rahimi expressed hope for the return of women’s sports and reinstatement of basic human rights such as education.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
