Afghan Weightlifting Official to Judge at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
Mohammad Azam Kohi will represent Afghanistan as an international weightlifting referee at the 20th Asian Games in Japan. His appointment gives Afghanistan technical representation at one of Asia’s largest sporting events.
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Mohammad Azam Kohi will represent Afghanistan as a weightlifting referee at the 20th Asian Games, extending the country’s participation in the event beyond its competing athletes.
Kohi is president of the Afghanistan Weightlifting Federation and holds first-class international referee status. He is also a member of the Asian Weightlifting Federation’s Technical Committee.
Afghanistan’s sports authorities announced his appointment ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Games, which officially run from September 19 to October 4 in Japan.
The appointment places an Afghan official inside the technical operation of one of Asia’s largest multi-sport competitions. Around 17,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and regions are expected to participate across 43 sports.
Kohi has officiated at several international weightlifting competitions during the past two years.
According to Afghanistan’s sports administration, his assignments have included the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China, the World Weightlifting Championships in Riyadh, the Asian Youth Games in Manama and the Asian Junior Championships in Tashkent.
He also officiated at the 2026 Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships before receiving his latest assignment.
Before his departure, Kohi met officials from Afghanistan’s sports administration and National Olympic Committee in Kabul.
His presence in Japan provides Afghanistan with representation in the Games’ officiating structure at a time when the country is also preparing athletes and teams for competition.
The Aichi-Nagoya Games are the third Asian Games hosted by Japan, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
