Akbar Amiri has been selected as Afghanistan’s representative in the men’s +80kg taekwondo category at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya after defeating Omid Sahak in the selection bout. Previously, Hikmatullah Zain had secured Afghanistan’s place in the -68kg category.
As a result, Afghanistan will be represented by two national taekwondo athletes at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya: Hikmatullah Zain and Ali Akbar Amiri. The two athletes will compete in different weight categories.
The 20th Asian Games will begin on September 19, 2026 (28 Sunbula 1405) in Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, Japan, and will continue through October 4 (12 Mizan). The event is one of the most prestigious sporting competitions in Asia, bringing together athletes from countries across the continent to compete in a wide range of disciplines.
Following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994, Nagoya will become the third Japanese city to host the Asian Games. The event will provide Afghan athletes with an opportunity to compete on one of the continent’s most prominent sporting stages.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
