The Afghanistan women’s volleyball team, comprised of players from the Afghan diaspora, suffered its second consecutive loss at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, falling to Tajikistan in straight sets on Sunday.
In the match held in Riyadh, Afghanistan was defeated with set scores of 25–15, 25–16, and 25–17. The team had earlier lost its opening match to Turkey by a similar 3–0 margin.
Afghanistan entered the tournament with only eight players, well below the standard 12-player roster, due to travel complications. Four additional players were unable to join the squad because of issues related to passport renewals and visa delays.
The absence of key team members was compounded by the nonattendance of Zahra Ahmadi, the team’s official head, leaving the team under the temporary direction of Mohammad Asadollahi, the Iranian coach of Afghanistan’s men’s national volleyball team.
The Afghan women’s team at the games includes players based in Iran, Australia, and various European countries.
The Islamic Solidarity Games, hosted this year with participation from five women’s volleyball teams, continue amid growing calls for greater support and resources for Afghan women athletes, many of whom now compete in exile following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Afghanistan remains winless in the tournament.
