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 code	AFG
NOC	Afghanistan National Olympic Committee
in Beijing
Competitors	4 in 2 sports
Flag bearer	Nesar Ahmad Bahave[1]
Medals Ranked 80th	Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 1 Total 1
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

Medalists

Medal	Name	Sport	Event
Bronze	Rohullah Nikpai	Taekwondo	Men'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
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", 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