Sport
ATN to broadcast second season of Ariana Snooker Championship
Around 60 male players from across the country—including teenagers, young adults and experienced competitors—are expected to take part.
Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) has secured the rights to produce and broadcast the second season of the Ariana Snooker Championship, following the success of its inaugural tournament last year.
The second edition of the competition will run from May 11 to May 22, 2026, over a 10-day period across two weeks. Matches will air daily from 13:00 to 18:00 from the ATN Big Studio in Kabul.
Around 60 male players from across the country—including teenagers, young adults and experienced competitors—are expected to take part.
The tournament will follow a structured format beginning with a group stage, progressing to knockout rounds, semifinals and a final. This season will again feature the fast-paced 6-ball snooker format.
The championship builds on a highly competitive first season, which concluded with Naveed Naderi lifting the trophy after a closely contested 7–6 victory over Rayees Khan Hotak in the final. The 32-year-old Naderi, ranked number two in Afghanistan at the time, secured the title following a week of high-quality matches.
Sixteen of the country’s top players—many of them teenagers—competed in the inaugural event, highlighting the depth of emerging talent in Afghan snooker. Wahidullah Asghari, head of the national federation, praised the performances at the time, noting that young players had demonstrated strong potential and pointing to a promising future for the sport.
The first tournament was organised and broadcast nationwide by ATN, underscoring the network’s ongoing commitment to supporting and developing sport in Afghanistan. Its coverage drew significant viewership and helped raise the profile of snooker across the country.
Snooker has grown steadily in popularity in Afghanistan, particularly among younger generations in urban areas, with local clubs and competitions providing a foundation for talent development. The return of the Ariana Snooker Championship is expected to further strengthen that momentum.
With expanded participation and continued national broadcast coverage, organisers say the second season aims to build on last year’s success and provide an even stronger platform for Afghan players to showcase their skills on a national stage.
Abu Muslim Farah beat Omar Zawak Herat 4-0 in the 30th match of the sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League, delivering an impressive performance.
The match was played today (Wednesday) at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium.
Samiullah Naderi scored Abu Muslim Farah’s opening goal in the final minutes of the first half.
Abu Muslim Farah continued their attacking play in the second half, with Aman Sardari scoring the team’s second goal in the 69th minute with a spectacular header.
Omid Rajabi and Mirois Ghafouri then added two more goals to complete a 4-0 victory for Abu Muslim Farah.
Amanullah Sardari, captain of Abu Muslim Farah, was named Player of the Match against Omar Zawak Herat.
Abu Muslim Farah will face Ariana Khost in their next match on October 2, while Omar Zawak Herat will take on Istiqlal Kabul on the same day.
The sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League is being broadcast live on Ariana Television.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s High Performance Center is set to launch a nationwide fast-bowling talent identification program, titled “Afghan Thunder,” across several provinces throughout October.
According to the ACB, the program will begin in Kunduz on October 4, with assessments continuing in Herat, Kandahar, Kabul, Khost, Paktia and Kunar before concluding in Nangarhar on October 27.
The board says eligible participants must be between 19 and 26 years old, at least 180 centimeters tall, hold a valid electronic National ID (e-Tazkira) and be capable of bowling at speeds of at least 140 kilometers per hour.
The assessment schedule is as follows: Kunduz on October 4–5, Herat on October 9–10, Kandahar on October 12, Kabul on October 14–15, Khost on October 19, Paktia on October 21, Kunar on October 25 and Nangarhar on October 27.
The ACB has encouraged eligible players who believe they have the potential to develop into high-level fast bowlers to take part in the Afghan Thunder Fast-Bowling Talent Hunt Program on the designated dates.
The board says the initiative aims to identify promising fast-bowling talent from across Afghanistan and provide talented players with a pathway into the country’s high-performance cricket system.
Toofan Herat and Aino Mina Kandahar drew 1-1 in the 29th match of the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan on Tuesday.
Enayatullah Koohi scored the opening goal for Toofan Herat in the first half, but Ahmad Nabi Moqaddas equalized for Aino Mina Kandahar in the 32nd minute.
Both teams created chances to score in the second half, but neither side was able to find the net, and the match ended 1-1.
Toofan Herat committed 12 fouls and received one yellow card, while Aino Mina Kandahar committed 16 fouls and received two yellow cards.
Toofan Herat will face Arman FC in their next match on October 1, while Aino Mina Kandahar will take on Abu Muslim Farah on October 2.
The sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League is being broadcast live on Ariana Television.
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