Afghanistan’s presence at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games has extended beyond athletes, with three-star Kurash referee Sediqullah Nemat appointed to officiate two finals in the sport.
Nemat took charge of the men’s 81kg final between Iran’s Ramin Ahmadzadeh and Uzbekistan’s Ziyodullaev, after previously officiating the women’s 57kg final between Uzbekistan’s Ibadatkhan Agojonova and Ting Li-Wan of Chinese Taipei.
Receiving two final appointments at the same Asian Games gives Nemat’s participation greater significance than simply being included among the competition officials. Finals place referees at the decisive stage of competition, where their officiating is directly involved in determining continental medals.
Nemat is one of three Afghan Kurash referees working at the Games. Asadullah Tajik and Ajmal Ishaqzai are also part of Afghanistan’s officiating representation in Nagoya.
That gives Afghanistan a second form of representation in international competition: alongside athletes competing for results, Afghan officials are also being assigned roles in the conduct of continental events.
The Afghanistan Kurash Federation described the participation of its three referees as evidence of the capacity of Afghan Kurash officiating at continental level.
For Nemat, being entrusted with two finals provides the clearest measure of that involvement at these Games — an Afghan official working at the point where Asian Games medals are decided.
