Afghanistan’s national wushu team has departed for Japan as the country prepares to compete at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
The seven-member wushu delegation consists of four athletes, two coaches and one federation official, according to information released by Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports.
The wushu athletes will form part of a considerably larger Afghan delegation for the continental event.
Afghanistan is expected to field 34 athletes across nine different sports at the Games, giving the country representation across several disciplines on one of Asia’s largest sporting stages.
The 20th Asian Games are scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
Athletes representing 45 Asian countries are expected to compete across 41 sports, according to information released by Afghan sports authorities.
Before the wushu delegation’s departure, Afghan sports officials said the athletes had undergone preparations for the competition and expressed hope that they could produce competitive performances in Japan.
For Afghanistan, the significance extends beyond the four wushu athletes travelling with this delegation. The country’s planned 34-athlete presence across nine sports provides Afghan competitors with an opportunity to test themselves against leading athletes from across Asia.
The wushu delegation’s departure also marks another step in Afghanistan’s final preparations ahead of the opening of the Games.
