Ismail Kakar, member of Afghanistan’s Kurash team, won a silver medal at an international Sambo-Kurash competition held in Paris, finishing as runner-up in a field of athletes from 25 countries.
According to Afghanistan’s Sambo-Kurash Federation, Kakar defeated opponents from Congo, France, and Tajikistan during the tournament, which was part of the Uzbekistan President’s Prize series.
The competition, hosted by France, drew participants from across Europe, Asia, and Africa and was considered one of the major international events in the sport.
Former president Hamid Karzai congratulated Kakar in a message posted Wednesday on the social media platform X, praising his performance and calling it a source of national pride.
“I congratulate Esmail Kakar, a member of Afghanistan’s national Kurash team, on winning the silver medal at the world championships in Paris,” Karzai wrote. “I hope all our talented and hardworking athletes achieve more success on international stages and continue to raise Afghanistan’s name with honor.”
In his message, Karzai added that such accomplishments are a point of pride for the country and could serve as inspiration for Afghanistan’s younger generation to pursue excellence in sports and beyond.
