Afghanistan hoops dream shattered

Being in the spectacular opening ceremony was the Asian Games highlight for Afghanistan's basketball team. Edmond Tang / China Daily

GUANGZHOU - Afghanistan's basketball team arrived in China desperate to win an Asian Games medal and return home to share the delight.

Neither of those dreams will be realized.

After Afghanistan lost 83-76 to India in a qualifying game, there will be no happy returns for a team for whom the United States is now home.

"Wearing the colors of my country and representing my people are beautiful," said Ali Noorzad.

"But more than anything, I would love for us to be able to return home to Afghanistan."

Noorzad, 24, has never been to Afghanistan, having been born in the US to refugee parents.

The team is predominantly America-based, but the Afghanistan Olympic Committee insists it is not safe for the squad, which is the South Asian Games gold medalist, to go home.

The handful of Afghanistan-based players who took part in the that South Asian Games success in February enjoyed celebrity status when they returned home.

"They were paraded around like superstars," said Noorzad. "Our homeland has never had a gold medal to celebrate and we just wanted to share it."

Afghanistan defeated India by a point to win the South Asian title, but came up short on Monday.

"We played on behalf of our country to win back respect from the world," said Afghanistan coach Wamiq Rafiq.

"The Asian Games also give our players the chance to know more about the world. Basketball or football, male or female, they can participate at the world level," he said.

Afghanistan guard Mohammad Mojaddidi said players were distraught by the defeat, which came in the only game they played in Guangzhou.

"There were tears in the dressingroom. We have come so far and trained so hard to have this opportunity to play for our country. It sucks that we don't get the chance to play again tomorrow."

Despite the setback, the Afghanistan delegation still has an Asian Games gold medal hope in its men's cricket team, which is a contender in the tournament.

In individual events, taekwondo could also provide rewards with Afghanistan having captured two bronze at the Doha Asiad in 2006.

Agence France-Presse