Domestic competitions and training programs kept athletes active in 2025, but inadequate facilities continue to limit performance and long-term progress.
Kabul | By Taieb Khatizwal
Afghanistan’s sports sector recorded increased domestic activity in 2025, driven by expanded local competitions and renewed attention to coach and referee training, even as chronic shortages in sports infrastructure continued to limit athlete performance, officials and analysts said.
Molvi Ahmadullah Wasiq said the Sports Administration organised training seminars for coaches and referees at national and provincial levels throughout the year, with the aim of improving technical standards and better preparing athletes across a range of sports.
He said these programs were closely tied to domestic leagues and championships, which saw wider participation and reached more provinces than in the previous year.
In a televised interview, Wasiq said local competitions had become the backbone of Afghan sport, keeping athletes active at a time when international opportunities remained limited.
Sports analyst Khan Afzal Hadawal said the focus on developing coaches and referees was a positive step, but warned that technical progress would remain fragile as long as athletes continued to train in inadequate facilities.
Khalid Hotak said future assessments should move beyond counting events and instead focus on athlete development, performance levels, and competitive readiness.
Afghanistan Sports Journalists Federation (ASJF) President Khushhal Taib said training programs must be continuous and institutionally structured to have a lasting impact.
He added that the lack of proper facilities remains a major obstacle, preventing many athletes from training and competing at full capacity, and said greater involvement from the private sector could help close existing infrastructure gaps.
While domestic sports activity has expanded, analysts said long-term progress will depend on aligning participation, technical development, and facility investment under a clear national strategy.