 The people of Afghanistan love
playing all kinds of sports. The most popular sport in Afghanistan is
buzkashi, a team sport played on horseback. The second most popular
sport is football (soccer), followed by cricket. Cricket gained popularity
in early 2002, when Afghan refugees who had lived in Pakistan (where
cricket is very popular) returned home and brought the sport with them. In
fact, Afghanistan and Oman shared the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Twenty20
Cup in November 2007, an event that featured 10 Asian nations. A lot has
changed since the fall of the Taliban for Afghan sports and athletes.
For instance, now more women have taken up various types of sports such
martial arts, and boxing. On December 29, 2007, a bodybuilding club
for women was inaugurated in Parwan province. During the dark rule of the
Taliban, participation by both men and women in many sports were
restricted, and buzkashi was even banned. Instead, the Taliban used Kabul's
sports stadium to carry out public executions.
by
Abdullah Qazi (March 23, 2008)
Section last updated on January 28, 2009 |
