Asian Games-Minnows take pride in competing on world stage
ChimS1
By Ken Ferris
PUSAN, South Korea, Oct 1 (Reuters) - China, Japan and host nation South Korea
may be competing for most of the medals at the Asian Games but for countries
like Afghanistan, East Timor and Bhutan just taking part is already considered
a success.
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Syria, Yemen, East Timor and the
Palestinians have all sent delegations of fewer than 50 members compared to
South Korea's 1,008, Japan's 988 and China's 946.
Apart from size the other notable feature of their squads is that typically
there are fewer than three women athletes.
Tiny Bhutan and distant Syria have sent the smallest delegations of 26 members,
including 19 and 21 athletes, respectively.
Cambodia, Laos and Syria have sent only one woman athlete each.
East Timor, taking part in its first Asian Games since independence from
Indonesia in May, has sent 15 athletes, including just one woman, as part of a
32-member delegation even though it is not yet a member of the Olympic Council
of Asia (OCA).
The Palestinian Olympic Committee has sent one woman athlete in a 50-member
delegation that includes 39 athletes.
The Palestinian squad gave a reminder of the political dimension of sport when
they held up a poster of President Yasser Arafat during Sunday's opening
ceremony at the main stadium.
The Palestinian athletes are competing in nine sports including soccer, boxing,
judo, fencing and taekwondo.
Afghanistan is making its first appearance in a decade after it was suspended
from participating in the Asian Games following the takeover of the country by
the hardline Taliban regime.
HARDSHIPS
Most of these countries have overcome extreme hardships in the form of poverty
or conflict to enter a team and their athletes have few top-class facilities
and limited state support.
But they are determined to make their mark at the 14th Asian Games and still
hold out hope for a medal or two.
The smaller nations have tasted success before. Syria won two silvers and four
bronze medals in Bangkok four years ago, while Laos secured a bronze despite
having the smallest delegation.
Countries like Afghanistan have little hope of winning a medal of any kind, but
they are keen to represent their nations.
"I am proud of playing for my country and will show the world that we have
athletes regardless of the result," said soccer player Rahil Mohammad before
they lost 10-0 to Iran.
"What is important is that we are here," he added. "We want to show the world
that even through the last few years, athletes tried their best to practise."
Afghanistan's team is competing in boxing, taekwondo, judo, cycling and soccer.
It includes three women in taekwondo who have spent most of the last five years
training in neighbouring Iran because the Taliban banned women from playing
sport.
"We have three women for taekwondo, the first time ever for our country," said
coach Mir Ali Asgar. "We come with only 24, that is 19 athletes and five others
-- trainers, assistants, a doctor and officials."
The country's best chance of success will likely come in boxing, one of the
most popular sports in Afghanistan, and they have sent a six-strong team
including flyweight Mohammad Daoud.
"It's not important whether I win or lose but when I hear the national anthem I
will be so proud," he said.
SECRET TRAINING
Afghanistan's soccer team, assembled at the last minute, found out just days
before the Games that they would take part. The team was only confirmed when
Mongolia pulled out last month.
Many of their players trained secretly for years but they had not practised as
a full squad.
After Afghanistan's defeat to Iran, 18-year-old Mohammad Khalid and his team
mates watched Kuwait beat Pakistan 6-0.
"Things are good for them," he said, motioning toward the players from the
oil-rich Gulf monarchy. "They have money. They have no civil wars. They can
play football."
Khalid and his family fled the capital Kabul for neighbouring Pakistan when it
became clear after the September 11 attacks that the United States was about to
attack the Taliban government.
He polished his skills playing for a team sponsored by a Pakistani bank but
after six months he returned to Afghanistan to find the country and its
football establishment in ruins.
"Under the Taliban we had to play in long trousers and grow long beards," said
Basher Ahmad Sahadat, a 23-year-old civil engineer who featured against Iran.
"But we played a lot of football because we didn't have any jobs."
The Asian Games are a first step on the long road to sporting rehabilitation,
but Afghanistan are determined to succeed.
"Afghan people are strong," said Sahadat. "If we get help we can be good at
sports." Khalid was also hopeful about the future. "With a good coach, in three
to five years we will have a strong team. For now, I'm proud that our flag is
there," he said.
(via Seoul newsroom, +82 2 3704 56; seoul.newsroom+reuters.com)
10/01/02 03:26 ET
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