Afghan team arrives for 2018 Invictus Games to warm welcome

As hundreds of athletes from around the world descend in Sydney for the 2018 Invictus Games, the team from Afghanistan received a warm welcome on their arrival at Sydney International airport.

Afghan Team arrives for 2018 Invictus Games

Source: SBS

As many as 500 wounded veterans and serving military men and women from 18 countries will compete in 13 sports taking place across the city during Games.

The team from Afghanistan arrived to a warm reception on Thursday night, welcomed by community members as well as Afghanistan's Ambassador to Australia.
Afghan team arrives in Sydney for 2018 Invictus Games
Source: SBS
Mohammad Pashtoon, Manager of the Afghan team said 11 veterans will be competing three events - powerlifting, rowing and sitting volleyball.

"You know in Afghanistan we have a war; we have been fighting throughout the whole war and this is my message to others to help support the Afghanistan team."

Most are still active personnel in the Afghan army and it's the second time that they are participating in the Invictus Games.
"Our hope is to win and it's also motivation for those who have lost limbs but who still feel part of this social team."

Wahidullah Waissi, the Afghan Ambassador to Australia was among those who greeted the team at Sydney airport.

He says he was not expecting such a big welcome for the team.

"It's a very pleasant time, not only for me but for the Afghan community who have come from all across Sydney to be here. It means a lot to our players.  We have eight players who will play against 18 countries.
Afghan team Invictus Games 2018
Source: SBS
"The Invictus Games itself is an opportunity for those who really fought hard to save other lives but they lost parts of their bodies and sacrificed (parts of) their bodies.  Now they are trying to prove themselves in a different way and show that they are still doing their best."

Challenges still faced

Ambassador Waissi says there are challenges still faced.

"We're still in battle - it's international terrorism, not only in Afghanistan but the whole world. I think our players are more strong because they're still in conflict, they're still seeing our fallen people, our fallen soldiers every day. But it all means that we never give up."
Afghan team arrives for 2018 Invictus Games Sydney
Source: SBS
Sydney is the fourth city to host the Invictus Games since the inaugural event in London in 2014.

Australia will field its biggest team yet, with 72 athletes competing in 11 adaptive sports including athletics, archery, swimming, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.

 


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2 min read
Published 19 October 2018 6:31pm
Updated 22 October 2018 2:25pm
By SBS Pashto
Source: SBS

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