Afghanistan launches its twelfth national kickboxing selection tournament with 180 athletes competing for spots on the national team.
Kabul | by Sara Amiri
Afghanistan opened its twelfth national kickboxing selection tournament on Thursday, bringing together 180 athletes from across the country for a week of competition.
The event began at the 2,500-seat gymnasium of the General Directorate of Olympic Affairs, organized by the National Kickboxing Federation in cooperation with the Directorate of Physical Education and Sport. Senior officials, including Dad Mohammad Payinda Okhtari, Abdul Naser Hashimi, Atal Mashwani, Hayatullah Rahmani, and Naqibullah Hotak, attended the opening ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Hashimi called on athletes to maintain discipline and moral conduct, describing sport as a unifying force in Afghanistan. He said the development of national athletes required both physical strength and strong character.
The tournament features several weight divisions beginning at 51 kilograms. Over six days of competition, selectors will narrow the field to 24 athletes who will earn places on the national kickboxing team.