By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi and Kian Sharifi May 21, 2025 Afghan female athletes who fled to Pakistan to escape Taliban restrictions are facing a slew of problems, including poverty, a lack of training facilities, and uncertainty about their immigration status. After the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women and girls were
Amu: For the first time in its history, Afghanistan has advanced two boxers to the finals of the Asian U22 and Youth Boxing Championships, a landmark achievement for the country’s national boxing team, accomplished on the eighth day of competition in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital. In the 80-kilogram division, Afghan boxer Ferdaws Najibi dominated
Amu: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the Taliban’s reported ban on chess in Afghanistan, calling the move “regrettable” and warning it could have a lasting impact on the development of the sport in the country. In a statement, FIDE said it is in consultation with the International Olympic Committee,
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s Sports Authority has formally suspended the Afghanistan Chess Federation, declaring the game of chess “haram” (forbidden under Islamic law), Afghanistan International has learned. The game has now been officially banned, following in the footsteps of other sports such as mixed martial arts, which were previously outlawed under similar justifications. Click here
Afghanistan International: The team will now be eligible to compete in FIFA-sanctioned competitions. The Afghanistan Women’s Refugee Team (AWRT) will initially operate on a one-year pilot basis, designed to assess the long-term viability of the initiative and lay the groundwork for the potential formation of similar teams representing refugees of other nationalities in future. Click
Amu: Afghanistan’s national cricket team has reached its highest-ever position in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings, climbing to seventh place as of May 4, 2025 — a significant leap that places it ahead of cricketing powerhouses like England and the West Indies. Click here to read more (external link). More Cricket News Eighth edition of
Tolo News: The four-day First-Class Cricket Tournament will begin tomorrow (Monday) in Nangarhar, organized by the Afghanistan Cricket Board. Teams Hindukush, Maiwand, Pamir, and Mahipar will compete in the tournament. Click here to read more (external link).
Ariana: Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A will take on each other from Tuesday in an unofficial Test – which will make up part of the process to increase the importance of red-ball cricket in Afghanistan. A number of players in the squad have however already played in the national side. Click here to read
DW: Sadia Bromand fled Afghanistan six years ago. With the Taliban having returned to power, the boxer continues to fight for women’s rights in her homeland – from Germany’s capital. Even before the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, female boxers were rare and viewed with skepticism by broad sections of the country’s
Khaama: A court in California has arrested Afghan UFC fighter Ahmad Hasanzada on charges of committing sexual acts against a child under the age of 14, a serious criminal offense in the United States. According to AG Fight, the 28-year-old athlete was taken into custody last week in Sacramento. The charges carry greater legal weight