Afghan Grappler Sofia Sarwari Wins Two Golds in Germany, Dedicates Victory to Afghan Girls
Sofia Sarwari won four consecutive bouts by submission to claim gold medals in both Gi and No-Gi divisions at a Grappling Industries tournament in Nuremberg, Germany. The Afghan athlete dedicated her achievement to girls in Afghanistan who remain excluded from education and face severe restrictions on sporting participation.
Afghan grappler Sofia Sarwari won two gold medals at a Grappling Industries tournament in Nuremberg, Germany, on 11 October 2026, finishing all four of her bouts by submission before dedicating her achievement to girls in Afghanistan.
According to Afghanistan International, Sarwari competed in both Gi and No-Gi divisions and won two matches in each to finish first in both categories.
Her opening victory came against Austria's Elena Prantl Salchner, followed by a win over Flen Zacharia in her second bout.
Sarwari then defeated Germany's Veronika Maltsev in her third contest and overcame the same opponent again in her fourth match.
All four victories were secured by submission, a result achieved when an opponent concedes during a grappling exchange.
Winning across both Gi and No-Gi divisions requires competitors to adapt to different gripping conditions. Gi contests allow athletes to use the traditional training uniform for grips and control, while No-Gi competition relies more heavily on direct body control and positioning.
The two titles extend a successful period for Sarwari in international grappling.
In September, she won another gold medal at an ADCC amateur grappling championship in Kraków, Poland, where she recorded three consecutive victories.
The Kraków event was held from 11 to 13 September 2026, according to the original report.
Sarwari's latest victories carried a message beyond the competition floor.
She dedicated the medals to Afghan girls who have been denied access to secondary and higher education and whose opportunities to participate in organised sport have been severely restricted.
Her dedication linked her personal sporting success abroad with the circumstances facing girls and women in Afghanistan.
The original report did not provide Sarwari's weight category, the total number of competitors in each division or the official match records. Those details remain to be confirmed against the tournament organiser's results.
