Women's Sports Ban Under Taliban Shadow; Afghanistan Has Two Sports Teams in Asian Games

In the first Asian Games held after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, two teams of Afghan athletes, differing in appearance, entered the city of Hangzhou, China. According to the Associated Press, Atl Mashwani, the Taliban's appointed spokesperson for the Afghan Olympic Committee, stated that one of these teams is sent from Afghanistan, consisting of about 130 male athletes. These athletes will compete in 17 different sports, including volleyball, judo, and wrestling. Since the Taliban has banned women from participating in sports after regaining control of Afghanistan, no women are present in this group. The other team, according to Hafizullah Wali Rahimi, competes under the black, red, and green flag of the elected government that the Taliban overthrew in 2021. Members of this team are Afghan athletes from abroad, among whom 17 female athletes will compete. Mr. Rahimi, the president of the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan, who works from outside Afghanistan since the Taliban's return to power, is still recognized by many countries as the official representative of Afghanistan in Olympic matters. He told reporters at the official welcome ceremony that the athletes are there for the love of sports. Mr. Rahimi told the Associated Press, 'We want to keep sports completely separate from politics so that athletes can freely continue their athletic activities and growth both inside and outside their country.' Mr. Rahimi's team was all male at the welcome ceremony, but he mentioned that a group of female athletes is on the way, consisting of volleyball players who trained in Iran, cyclists from Italy, and a track and field representative from Australia. Despite their promises of a more moderate government compared to their previous rule in Afghanistan, the Taliban has resumed its strict measures since retaking Afghanistan in August 2021. They have banned women's presence from most public places such as parks, gyms, and work, and have restricted media freedom. The Taliban government has prohibited girls' education beyond the sixth grade and does not allow Afghan women to work in government and non-government organizations. Mr. Rahimi stated that the previous government had made significant efforts to increase women's participation in sports, raising the number of female athletes to 20 percent. He expressed hope that women in Afghanistan would regain their freedom, 'not only in sports, we hope they (Afghan women and girls) return to schools and educational centers, as this is a basic human right.' The official opening ceremony of the Asian Games will be held on Saturday, October 1.