Afghanistan wins first medal in 2010 Asian Games

Today at the 16th Asian Games, currently being held in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, Nesar Ahmad Bahawi grabbed Afghanistan’s first medal. He received a silver medal in the Men’s Under 80 kg in Taekwondo. This is an improvement for Bahawi since in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, he received a bronze medal. Nabil Hassan of Jordan narrowly beat him to claim the gold medal. “After four years of working hard, I made it to the final. I’m really happy,” Behawi told AFP, when he reached the final against Hassan. “All my family and friends are praying for me. I fight for them, for my people and my country.” As there are still many days of competitions left, Afghan sports fans are hoping their athletes pick up some more medals in martial arts and in cricket, which has become very popular in Afghanistan in recent years.