Afghanistan’s Ali Sajjad Wins Asian Para Games Opener, Then Loses Second Bout
Afghan para-taekwondo athlete Ali Sajjad Hamraz defeated a Myanmar opponent in his opening contest at the fifth Asian Para Games in Japan. He subsequently lost to a competitor from Chinese Taipei and was reported to be heading into a bronze-medal contest against a Mongolian opponent.
Afghanistan's Ali Sajjad Hamraz began his campaign at the fifth Asian Para Games with a victory over a Myanmar opponent before suffering defeat in his second para-taekwondo contest.
According to the initial report from Afghanistan's National Paralympic Committee, Hamraz won his opening bout in two consecutive rounds, advancing to the next stage of the competition.
His next opponent was a para-taekwondo athlete representing Chinese Taipei.
A subsequent report by Pajhwok Afghan News, citing the Afghanistan National Paralympic Committee, confirmed that Hamraz lost that second contest.
The same report said Hamraz was scheduled to face a Mongolian opponent in a contest for the bronze medal. The result of that bout was not confirmed in the information available for this report.
The fifth Asian Para Games are taking place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from October 18 to 24, 2026.
Afghanistan is represented at the event in para-taekwondo, para-powerlifting and para-table tennis, according to the Afghan delegation report.
Hamraz's opening victory gave Afghanistan an early result in the para-taekwondo competition, while the subsequent defeat shifted attention to his remaining medal opportunity.
Afghanistan National Paralympic Committee; Pajhwok Afghan News; Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games
