84 Afghan athletes taking part in this year’s Asian Games

Published

2 years ago

September 24, 2023

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s general directorate of physical education and sport said Sunday 84 athletes from Afghanistan are taking part in this year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

The dazzling opening ceremony was held on Saturday. Athletes from 45 Asian countries are taking part.

According to the directorate 84 athletes plus representatives of the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee were also at the ceremony.

The general directorate of physical education and sport said Afghan athletes will be competing in 15 different sports.

In a new development, Esports will make its debut as an official medal event at this year’s Asian Games, with seven gold medals to be awarded across seven game titles: Arena of Valor (Asian Games Version), DOTA 2, Dream of Three Kingdoms 2, League of Legends, Peace Elite (Asian Games Version), Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, and EA Sports FC Online.

Esports kicks off its first competitions on Sunday, September 24 with EA Sports FC Online and Arena of Valor (Asian Games Version) to be the inaugural titles of this historic event.

A total of 476 athletes from 30 National Olympic Committees will compete over nine days, involving 219 matches, with 21 medals to be awarded.

The official draws were conducted for all seven game titles, with Asian Electronic Sports Federation Vice President Lokesh Suji, Sebastian Lau, and the Esports Technical Delegate Steve Kim taking turns drawing countries and regions from the pool.

Esports was a demonstration sport at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia in 2018 and will be a full medal sport for the first time in Hangzhou, where games will be played at the China Hangzhou Esports Centre.

The first medal will be presented on Tuesday, September 26 and then there will be one gold medal on offer for the following six days through to Monday, October 2.

Esports has already been confirmed in the programme for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi/Nagoya in 2026.

Saar

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Published

9 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Ariana News

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Omari and Iranian ambassador meet to strengthen Afghan migrant labor ties

Published

10 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Ariana News

Abdul Manan Omari, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, met on Wednesday with Alireza Bikdeli, Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, to discuss the development of bilateral labor cooperation, the legal deployment of Afghan workers to Iran, better regulation of the labor force, expansion of joint cooperation, and in particular a review of the situation of Afghan migrants.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Omari said during the meeting in Kabul that facilitation should be provided in the process of issuing legal work permits for Afghan migrants; cooperation should take place in expanding technical and vocational training programs in Afghanistan in both quantitative and qualitative terms; joint technical and vocational programs should be implemented with proper coordination; and all rights of Afghan workers in Iran should be guaranteed and ensured.

He added that this includes the fair payment of wages, the provision of a healthy and safe working environment, and the establishment of a joint commission to address labor disputes, so that the problems of Afghan workers both residents and newly arrived can be resolved effectively.

Omari also emphasized that the Islamic Emirate is keen to reach a mutual understanding with Iran regarding the organized, legal, and beneficial transfer of skilled and specialized workers, the protection of their rights in that country, and the enhancement of professional capacities, thereby facilitating labor exchange between the two countries.

During the meeting, Bikdeli stated that Iran is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan through the implementation of joint projects in the areas of organized migrant transfer and social support for them.

“We believe that cooperation with Afghanistan is not only a humanitarian responsibility but also an urgent necessity for regional stability,” he said.

He stated: “We are interested in labor exchange with Afghanistan and prefer to create opportunities for skilled Afghan workers in the Iranian labor market and for skilled Iranian workers in the Afghan labor market.”

He assured the IEA that Iran’s sustainable cooperation with Afghanistan will continue and emphasized the expansion of historical, cultural, and religious ties between the two countries.

Both sides pledged to continue their joint cooperation in creating job opportunities, expanding the labor market, enhancing technical and vocational training, and regulating matters related to migrants.

Sport

FC Goa to take on FC Istiklol in next AFC Champions League Two match

Published

13 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Ariana News

As FC Goa prepare to host FC Istiklol at the iconic Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in India, football fans are gearing up for an exciting AFC Champions League Two Group D clash.

In their previous encounter earlier in the tournament, Istiklol secured a 2‑0 victory over FC Goa in Tajikistan, with goals from Rustam Soirov and Reza Dehghani giving the visitors all three points.

Istiklol enter this rematch with strong momentum from their earlier win, while FC Goa are determined to claim their first points in the group. Goa will aim to turn the tables at home, leveraging the support of their fans at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to challenge Istiklol’s attacking threat.

The two teams have faced each other only a handful of times in continental competition. So far, Istiklol hold the edge in the head-to-head record, with the previous 2‑0 victory representing their only meeting in this season’s tournament. This sets the stage for a highly anticipated rematch as both clubs vie for crucial group points.

Experts say the midfield battle will be pivotal, determining possession and the tempo of the match. Istiklol’s continental experience may give them an edge, but Goa’s speed and technical skill — especially on home turf — could prove decisive in overturning their previous defeat.