Sport
IEA bans Mixed Martial Arts in Afghanistan
The directorate said in a statement that concerns had been raised in the past that the sport was not compliant with Sharia law.
The General Directorate of Physical Education and Sport of Afghanistan on Thursday announced that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights in Afghanistan have been banned.
The directorate said in a statement that concerns had been raised in the past that the sport was not compliant with Sharia law.
“After comprehensive investigations, it was found that free fighting sports have problems from the Sharia point of view, and most of its elements are in conflict with the teachings of the Islamic religion, and for this reason, the sport of free fighting (MMA) has no right to operate in Afghanistan and is prohibited,” read the statement.
There have been rumors circulating on social media in recent weeks indicating that all combat sports, such as MMA, judo, karate, boxing, taekwondo and others will be banned.
However, these reports have not been confirmed – except for Thursday’s announcement on the MMA ban.
Sport
Bamyan hosts ski competition sponsored by AWCC
A ski competition was held in Bamyan province with financial backing from Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC), bringing together 230 athletes on the snowy slopes of Chapdara Shah Foladi.
The event was organized across three age groups and in three categories—amateur, professional, and local—featuring participants from Bamyan, Ghazni Province, and Maidan Wardak Province. Competitors welcomed the initiative and called for sustained support to further develop winter sports in Afghanistan.
Local officials said the competition aimed to nurture young talent and encourage greater engagement in sports.
Rajab Ali Fitrat, Deputy for Technical and Professional Affairs at Bamyan’s Department of Physical Education and Sports, expressed appreciation for AWCC and urged continued support for athletes across all disciplines, particularly skiing.
Organizers also underscored the importance of ongoing sponsorship, describing it as vital to the growth of sports in Bamyan. Shah Agha, one of the event organizers, called on AWCC to maintain its cooperation with local athletes, especially in skiing.
Athletes described the competition as a valuable opportunity to gain experience and showcase their skills.
Ali Askari, a participant, noted that he has been skiing for about eight years and highlighted the presence of competitors from multiple provinces.
In the results, Sayed Rohullah claimed first place in the professional category, followed by Ali Agha and Sayed Hadi. In the amateur division, Asif, Shir Hussain, and Noor Agha secured the top three spots. In the local (wooden ski) category, Hassan Ali took first place, while Shamsullah and Mohammad finished second and third.
With its snow-covered mountains, Bamyan is widely regarded as one of Afghanistan’s premier destinations for winter sports and has previously hosted both national and international ski competitions.
Sport
13 mountaineers in Balkh summit Alborz at 1,650 meters
The Balkh Mountaineering Federation announced that 13 members of the Alborz Central team, led by Reza Rezaei, the federation’s Technical and Professional Deputy, with coordination from the Olympic and Physical Education Directorate and the provincial Mountaineering Federation, successfully climbed Mount Alborz during their first training program.
The purpose of this spring training and ascent was to strengthen the mountaineers both physically and mentally, as well as to promote the culture of mountaineering in Balkh.
Sport
Myanmar trump Afghanistan 2-1 in Asian Cup Qualifier
The Afghanistan national football team lost 2–1 to Myanmar in the Asian Cup qualifiers in Yangon on Thursday afternoon.
Afghanistan’s national team is scheduled to play its final match of the competition on March 31 against Syria in Saudi Arabia.
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