(WNAM Monitoring): Abbas Karimi, a renowned swimmer from Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan residing in the United States, managed to win two gold medals and one bronze medal in the World Para Swimming Championships hosted by the United States.
This Afghan athlete secured two gold medals in the 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly, and a bronze medal in the 50-meter backstroke at these championships.
Karimi participates in this competition as the Afghan swimming champion, who also won a gold and a silver medal in the World Para Swimming Championships in the United States last year.
This comes as Abbas Karimi, in 2017, during the 9th edition of the World Para Swimming Championships, held in Mexico with the participation of 637 swimmers from 73 countries worldwide, won a silver medal in the 50-meter butterfly, becoming the first immigrant athlete in the world to achieve such a feat in the World Para Swimming Championships.
Abbas Karimi is set to compete in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris in the following months.
Since the regime change in Afghanistan, support for Afghan athletes has waned amid a severe humanitarian crisis. Resources and attention have shifted towards addressing urgent needs, leaving athletes with diminished support and financial assistance. Consequently, many athletes are unable to participate in national and international competitions due to a lack of backing.
The dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan post-regime change has sidelined the country’s athletes. Amidst food shortages and economic instability, the sporting community struggles to receive recognition and support. As a result, athletes face challenges accessing funding and government assistance, leading to their exclusion from competitions.
