Afghan president congratulates Olympic medallist
Rohullah Nikpah. -Photo by Reuters
KABUL: Afghanistan’s first medallist in the London Olympics received a personal phone call of congratulation from the war-torn country’s president Friday.
Rohullah Nikpah took a taekwondo bronze medal, repeating his performance in the 2008 Beijing Games when he became the nation’s first-ever Olympic medal winner.
President Hamid Karzai called Afghanistan’s team in London Friday to congratulate Nikpah and all the Afghan athletes, his office said.
“Afghan athletes have shown in recent years that they don’t have less talent than the athletes of other countries and with hard work and effort they can hoist the flag of Afghanistan in the international sports arena,” Karzai’s office said.
Nikpah’s victory was greeted with jubilation in a country ravaged by war for three decades, setting social media sites alight with pride.
Another Afghan Taekwondo hope, Nesar Ahmad Bahawi, began his quest for a medal Friday with a victory in his first bout.
Thanks to Nikpah and Bahawi, taekwondo has become one of the most popular sports in Afghanistan.
Around 25,000 competitors practise in hundreds of clubs around the country, and events with the Afghan fighters in London were shown live on several TV channels.
Before the 2008 Games, the country’s previous best Olympic finish was a fifth place in wrestling in 1964.
NATO has some 130,000 troops in Afghanistan helping Karzai’s government fight a Taliban insurgency.
Congratulations, to All Afghans from Canada
Congrats to my afghan brothers for this achievement which will give all of you a reason to cheer and also best of luck for all the endeavors that you have to put in to build your war ravaged country..
1st off…Great job!!! And all thanks to Allah swt.
2nd…"poor old war torn Afghanistan" is an understatement. Afghanistan has always been an undefeatable country with Allah's guidance until recently. So the Olympics is not impossible for an Afghan. He worked hard for it and deserved it and inshallah Pakistan joins the race but please no comparisons.
Mina from Chicago, IL
Cricket is the game of lazy people !!!!!
Well done Afghanistan, i hope so Pakistan also learn from you….
It's a wake up call for pakistan that apart from Militancy their are many ther field to compete…
either become a prosperous nation or War loving nation–>choice is yours.
CONGRATS AFGHANIS. AS PAKISTANIS WE SHOULD WAKE UP . ALSO WE NEED TO MAKE OURSELVES MORE FOCUSSED ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
This is the last straw when even poor old war torn Afghanistan wins an Olympics medal! Pakistan, SHAME ON YOU for a country of 180 million strong not to win a single medal. I agree that very soon Pakistan will be overtaken by both Afghanistan and Bangladesh in all fields. Pakistan = FAILED STATE!
why censorship?
It's a waste of time since my comments will be censored
Heartfelt Congratulations Afghanistan, from Pakistan
wish u all the best Afghanistan alwaysssssssssssssss!!!
Congradulations to Nikpai for wining a medal. Despite less facilities its a big achievement that Afghanistan finds itself in medal table. While Pakistan is having dark days as it continues to be away from medal. Its more sad that despite population of over 18 crore our nations fails to find medal winner. Its a wake up call for Pakistan.
Jeehai butto… butto pher b zinda hai… kash our rulers do some work instead of slogans
Congratulations to Rohulla Nikpah for back-to-back bronze medals in successive Olympics. Wish him all the best for gold medal at Rio de Janeiro Olympics(2016)
Congrats Afghan friend…… a salute from India.
Salute to Afghan friend from India on a Pakistani portal……………………………..:)
Great Job, With their hard-work they reached their mark and About our Pakistan i will like to say one word ! Improve Improve Improve.