Over 22,000 athletes engaged across 250 clubs as the province scales events and training initiatives
Jalalabad | By Sara Amiri
Nangarhar Province has emerged as one of Afghanistan’s most active regions for sports, with youth participation growing across multiple disciplines. In 2025, the provincial Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, supported by the General Directorate of the Olympic, Physical Education and Sports Authority of Afghanistan, organized 318 Olympic and non-Olympic sporting events. Of these, 143 were held in Jalalabad city and 178 across district centers.
Twenty-three federation branches operate in the province, including recently established representations for judo, pankration, and powerlifting. A total of 250 sports clubs host roughly 22,000 athletes, reflecting the province’s robust engagement in training and competition.
Authorities also focused on athlete and coach development. During the year, 415 participants attended intellectual and reform-oriented seminars, while 78 boxing athletes and 76 bodybuilders received technical instruction.
Cricket and volleyball remain the most popular sports, producing athletes who have advanced to national teams. Wrestling and boxing have also gained traction, supported by large-scale provincial tournaments. Key events included Khorasan University’s Sports Week, provincial volleyball selection competitions, a martial arts tournament featuring 200 athletes from 20 provinces, and the Nangarhar Premier Football League.
Nangarhar’s expanding sports ecosystem highlights the role of provincial institutions in converting popular enthusiasm into structured programs, while offering youth pathways for both athletic achievement and social engagement.