Afghan squad leaves for 2018 Asian Games

KABUL (SW) – A young and vibrant 120-member squad of Afghan athletes on Wednesday left for Indonesia to take part in the Asian Olympic Games.

The 2018 Asian Games, officially known as the 18th Asian Games and also known as Jakarta Palembang 2018, is a pan-Asian multi-sport event scheduled to be held from 18 August to 2 September 2018 in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang.

Spokesman for the Afghanistan Olympic Committee, Munawar Shah Bahadurin, told Salam Watandar athletes from Afghanistan would feature in athletics, swimming, basketball, wrestling, taekwondo, badminton, jujitsu, judo, boxing, wushu, rugby and kurash.

According to the officials of the Asian Games, eight women and 57 men athletes from Afghanistan would feature in this regional event.

Before the departure, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani encouraged the Afghan squad to demonstrate their best talent. Ghani promised a cash prize of $ 10,000 for every gold medal winner, $ 7000 for silver and $ 5000 for bronze medal winners.

ENDS