Afghan Sports History

by Abdullah Qazi (Last updated January 29, 2008)

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Early 1900s

• During the reign of Amir Habibullah, Western-type sports such as tennis, cricket and golf are introduced.

1936

• Afghanistan competed (for the first time) at the Summer Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany. No medals were won.

1948

• Afghanistan competed at the Summer Olympics in London. No medals were won.

1956

• Afghanistan competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, after having missed the 1952 Games in Helsinki. No medals were won.

1960

• Afghanistan competed at the Summer Olympics in Rome. No medals were won.

1964

• Afghanistan competed at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. No medals were won, however Afghan wrestler Mohammed Ebrahimi finished 5th in wrestling.

1967

• Kabul Golf Club opens.

1968

• Afghanistan competed at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. No medals were won.

1972

• Afghanistan competed at the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. No medals were won.

1978

• The Kabul Golf Club is closed down.

1980

• Afghanistan competed in the Summer Olympics in Moscow (Soviet Union). No medals were won. Many nations including the United States boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because of the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

1984

• Afghanistan (under Communist rule) boycotted the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

1985

• Afghanistan National Gymnastic Federation was created.

1988

• Afghanistan competed at the Summer Olympics in Seoul. No medals were won.

1993

• The Kabul Golf Club is reopened.

1996

• Afghanistan competed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. No medals were won.
• In September 2006, the Taliban capture Kabul and a major restrictions were placed. Women were no longer allowed to participate in sports, and the Kabul Golf Club was closed down.

1998

• Afghan Sports Federation (ASF) was established. ASF is a non-profit organization based in Fairfax, Virginia of Metropolitan Washington D.C. area. Their goal is to promote "amateur sports among the Afghan youths and Adults both men and women at every level of excellence in the region, the United States and the world."

1999

• Afghanistan was banned from Olympic competition because of the Taliban.

2002

• Afghanistan was reinstated and allowed to once again compete in Olympic competition.

2004

• Afghanistan returned to the Olympic Games at the Summer Olympics in Athens. Female athletes Friba Razayee and Robina Muqim Yaar represented Afghanistan for the first time in the country's history. No medals were won.
• The Kabul Golf Club reopens - nine-hole golf course located near Kargha.

2006

• December 1 to 15: Afghanistan participated in the Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar.
• In 2006, the Afghanistan Football (Soccer) Federation was also created.

2007

• January 28 - February 4: Afghanistan participated in the Asian Winter Games which was held in Changchun, China.
• August 1: The National Basketball Association of Afghanistan was established.
• November 2: Afghanistan and Oman shared the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Twenty20 Cup. 
• December 29: Bodybuilding club for women was inaugurated in Parwan province.