Palembang/Jakarta: On reaching Indonesia for the Asian Games, hearts in their mouths after a brush with American war tanks on way to Kabul airport, Afghanistan’s athletes requested India to help them the way it helped their cricket.
As they headed towards the airport, the 100-odd Afghani athletes saw American war tanks approach their Asian Games-bound contingent bus. Much to their relief, they were just asked to make way for the tanks.
Three out of those athletes, who watched blasts rock Kabul, Wednesday, are 100m specialists Abdul Wahab Zahiri and Kamia Yousufi, who competed at Rio Olympics, and sprinter Sadia Bromand.
“You won’t understand how we felt when we saw the American tanks. We constantly live in terror. But we want to live a peaceful life. We want to achieve our dreams, make our country proud,” said Zahiri.
They have seen how cricket has flourished in the Taliban-hit country with significant help from India. How Rashid Khan has gained the status of a super star after appearing in the IPL along with other cricketers from his country.
I want to train in India in the long-run so that I can improve my timings. I have written to AFI many times, most recently in 2018, but have not got a response yet
Abdul Wahab Zahiri – Afghan athlete
The non-cricket athletes are also looking towards India for help, to live their dreams. Zahiri made an honest appeal to the Indian authorities: “Help us the way you have helped Afghanistan cricket.”
While Zahiri developed a liking for the sport while studying in the Lahore University, Yousufi chased her dream in her birthplace Iran.
“When it comes to talent, Afghanistan has that in abundance. We just need support. When we left Kabul Wednesday, there was a blast. There is a blast almost every day. That sums up our story but we still continue to train and work hard,” Zahiri informed.
Like Zahiri, Olympian Kamia now wants to train in India. “I cannot train in Afghanistan because of safety reasons. Training in India would give me the right kind of exposure. Hope something can be worked out. It is very tough to be a sportsperson in Afghanistan,” Kamia, who wears a hijab while training, said.