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Afghan bastketball team!!
GUANGZHOU: Afghanistan's basketball team arrived in China desperate to win an Asian Games medal and return home to their embattled, war-torn country to share the delight.
Neither of those dreams will be realised.
Afghanistan lost 83-76 to India in a winner-takes-all qualifying game and suddenly their hopes were dashed.
There will be no happy returns for a team for whom the United States is now home.
"Wearing the colours of my country and representing my people is beautiful," said Ali Noorzad.
"But more than anything, I would love for us to be able to return home to Afghanistan."
Noorzad, 24, has never been to Afghanistan, having been born to the US to refugee parents.
The team is predominantly America-based, but the Afghanistan Olympic Committee insists it is not safe for the squad, who are South Asian Games gold medallists, to go home.
"As soon as there is a slight doubt about our safety, then we are told to stay in the US."
The handful of Afghanistan-based players who featured in that February success enjoyed celebrity status when they went back to the country.
"They were paraded around like superstars," said Noorzad. "Our homeland has never had a gold medal to celebrate and we just wanted to be able to go home and share it."
Afghanistan had defeated India by a point to win the South Asian title, but on Monday the tables were turned.
"We played on behalf of our country to win back respect from the world," said Afghanistan coach Wamiq Rafiq.
"The Asian Games also gives our players the chance to know more about the world. Basketball or football, male or female, they can participate in the Games at world level."
Afghanistan guard Mohammad Mojaddidi said players were distraught by the defeat which came in the only game they played in Guangzhou.
"There were tears in the dressing room. We have come so far and trained so hard to have this opportunity to play for our country. It sucks that we don't get the chance to come out and play again tomorrow."
Neither of those dreams will be realised.
Afghanistan lost 83-76 to India in a winner-takes-all qualifying game and suddenly their hopes were dashed.
There will be no happy returns for a team for whom the United States is now home.
"Wearing the colours of my country and representing my people is beautiful," said Ali Noorzad.
"But more than anything, I would love for us to be able to return home to Afghanistan."
Noorzad, 24, has never been to Afghanistan, having been born to the US to refugee parents.
The team is predominantly America-based, but the Afghanistan Olympic Committee insists it is not safe for the squad, who are South Asian Games gold medallists, to go home.
"As soon as there is a slight doubt about our safety, then we are told to stay in the US."
The handful of Afghanistan-based players who featured in that February success enjoyed celebrity status when they went back to the country.
"They were paraded around like superstars," said Noorzad. "Our homeland has never had a gold medal to celebrate and we just wanted to be able to go home and share it."
Afghanistan had defeated India by a point to win the South Asian title, but on Monday the tables were turned.
"We played on behalf of our country to win back respect from the world," said Afghanistan coach Wamiq Rafiq.
"The Asian Games also gives our players the chance to know more about the world. Basketball or football, male or female, they can participate in the Games at world level."
Afghanistan guard Mohammad Mojaddidi said players were distraught by the defeat which came in the only game they played in Guangzhou.
"There were tears in the dressing room. We have come so far and trained so hard to have this opportunity to play for our country. It sucks that we don't get the chance to come out and play again tomorrow."
Despite the setback, the Afghanistan delegation still have hopes of an Asian Games gold with their rapidly improving cricket team among the leading contenders in the men's tournament.
In individual events, taekwondo could also provide rewards with Afghanistan having captured two bronze at the Doha Asiad in 2006.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...ow/6933638.cms
In individual events, taekwondo could also provide rewards with Afghanistan having captured two bronze at the Doha Asiad in 2006.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...ow/6933638.cms