On 23rd September, the 19th Asian Games will open in Hangzhou, China. Over 12,500 athletes from 45 countries and regions in Asia will gather together to celebrate this sports event of the Asian people, and experience the splendid landscapes and rich culture of Hangzhou. This sports event will not only be a competitive stage for athletes from various Asian countries, including Afghanistan, but will also provide an important platform to promote sportsmanship, exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations.
War has left countless scars on Afghanistan, bringing profound calamity to Afghan society. However, sports and the spirit of athleticism have consistently served as a source of optimism for the Afghan people. During the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, Afghanistan was in turmoil and ravaged by war. Yet the Afghan delegation arrived as promised on the stage of the Asian Games. As the representative of the Afghan Asian Games Delegation said, “Although Afghanistan is in dire straits, we want to show the world that this country is not just about war, beautiful things like sports still exist.”
Two years ago, Afghanistan entered a new era of independent development, transitioning from chaos to stability. The Afghan people finally became owners of their own homeland, and the Afghan sports sector began to recover and thrive. Recently, the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports of Afghanistan announced that over 100 Afghan athletes would participate in 17 events at the Hangzhou Asian Games this year, marking the highest number in the history.
Wushu, as a precious cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, embody “Chinese Kung Fu” on the sports stage and hold significant importance in this edition of the Asian Games. In 2000, the Afghan Wushu Federation was established in the western province of Herat. It has witnessed both the glory and adversity of Wushu in Afghanistan, as well as the displacement of many athletes due to war. However, after 20 years of upheaval, The Afghan Wushu Federation is still operating, and Afghan Wushu athletes are still training.
According to media report, inspired by Chinese Kung Fu films, Afghan Wushu athlete Mohammad Khalid Hotak began practicing Wushu at the age of 14. He overcame the challenges of livelihood and diligently trained for 16 years, often competing against Chinese Wushu champions and ultimately winning a bronze medal in the Wushu event at the 2018 Asian Games. Now in his 30s, Hotak is determined to give his all in representing Afghanistan at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Hotak believes that “Although there are very few people practicing Wushu, it can also convey messages of peace and friendship. I hope that through my efforts, more Afghans can understand and love Wushu.”
On 15th March, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, offering a Chinese solution to promote global cultural exchange and mutual learning, and advance the development and progress of human civilization. The story of Hotak and the Asian Games exemplifies the convergence of two ancient civilizations, China and Afghanistan, through sports.
The Global Civilization Initiative advocates the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. Also, sports can transcend cultures, bridge differences, enhance human emotional exchanges, and achieve mutual cultural identity. Therefore, the Hangzhou Asian Games, as a vital stage for multicultural exchange and integration, not only embodies the spirit of “higher, faster, stronger, together” but also contributes to forging new horizons in people-to-people exchanges, cultural integration, and mutual understanding in Asia.
The relationship between nations is founded on the affinity of their people. The Chinese and Afghan peoples have enjoyed a longstanding friendship. In this new historical era, China and Afghanistan will utilize the Asian Games as a new opportunity to continuously expand their cultural exchanges, including sports. I believe that when Afghan athletes step onto the stage of the Hangzhou Asian Games, they will receive a warm welcome from Chinese spectators. I wish them great success and hope that they achieve remarkable results!
