Afghanistan at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Afghanistan sent a team to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The team consisted of three men and one woman.[2][3][4] Initially, Mehboba Ahdyar prepared to run the 800 metres and 1500 metres,[2][5] but left her training camp on June 4 to seek political asylum in Norway.[6][7] The country was represented by two competitors in athletics, and two in taekwondo.[2] Afghanistan won its first ever Olympic medal at these games, with Rohullah Nikpai taking bronze in men's 58 kg taekwondo.

Afghanistan at the
2008 Summer Olympics
IOC codeAFG
NOCAfghanistan National Olympic Committee
in Beijing
Competitors4 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Nesar Ahmad Bahave[1]
Medals
Ranked 80th
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Total
1
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Medalists
Medal Name Sport Event
 BronzeRohullah NikpaiTaekwondoMen's 58 kg

Athletics
Main article: Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Competitors in athletics events could qualify for the next round of competition in two ways. Qualifying by right involved ranking high enough in their heat, and qualifying by result meant ranking high enough in overall standings. Ranks shown are therefore those within each heat, not in overall standings.

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Massoud Azizi 100 m 11.45 8 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Robina Muqimyar 100 m 14.80 8 Did not advance

Taekwondo
Main article: Taekwondo at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Athlete Event Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage Bronze Medal Final
Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Rank
Rohullah Nikpai Men's −58 kg  Tuncat (GER)
W 4–3		  Pérez (MEX)
L 1–2		 Did not advance  Harvey (GBR)
W 2–1		  Ramos (ESP)
W 4–1		 Did not advance 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Nesar Ahmad Bahave Men's −68 kg  M López (USA)
L 0–3		 Did not advance  Manz (GER)
L 3–4		 Did not advance

References
  1. "List of Flagbearers Beijing 2008" (PDF). www.olympic.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  2. "Afghan Athletes Train for Beijing Olympic " Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine, Afghan embassy to the United States, April 29, 2008
  3. Chalmers, John (2008-08-09). "Against all odds, Afghans try their luck in Beijing". Beijing, China: Reuters. Archived from the original on 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2008-08-16. But Muqimyar, the only woman among four athletes representing Afghanistan at the Games...
  4. "Afghan Tae Kwon Do Champ Aims for Olympic Glory", NPR, June 10, 2008
  5. "Afghan Woman Runs Toward Olympics Despite Jeers, Potential Danger" Archived 2012-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, March 16, 2008
  6. Female Afghan athlete likely still on the run, USA Today, July 21
  7. Fears ease after missing Afghan athlete found, Times of London, July 10
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