Afghanistan sent a delegation to compete at the 1936 Summer OlympicsBerlin, Germany, from 1 to 16 August 1936. This was the nation's first appearance at a Summer Olympic Games and sent 19 competitors (but names of only 17 are known).[1] Eighteen of them were supposed to compete in the field hockey where they finished runner up in their group and not advancing to the knockout stage. Out of them only 12 competed in field hockey. Two, including one hockey player, competed in the sport of athletics with Mohammad Khan competing in the 100 meters sprint and long jump, failing to advance to the next stage of either of those events. He was also entered as a field hockey player. However, he did not start in field hockey. Abdul Rahim competed in the shot put with not advancing to the final.
Afghanistan sent two athletes to compete in the athletics competitions. One was 25 year old, Mohammad Khan who in his only Olympics competed in two events.[2] His first event was the men's 100 m which was held on the 26 July. Competing in heat three, he ended in last place to not qualify for the following stage.[3] The other event that he competed in was the men's Long jump which was held eight days later. Khan wouldn't qualify to the semi-final as he wouldn't reach the 7.15 meters qualifying distance to go through to the semi-final. His name was also entered in field hockey. However, he did not start in the field hockey.[4][5]
Twenty-three year old Abdul Rahim competed in his only Olympics, and he competed in only one event during the games. That being the men's Shot put which was held on 2 August. Much like Khan, he wouldn't advance to the final, as he fell short of the 14.50 meters required to advance.[4][6]
Afghanistan entered a team in the field hockey competition for the first time. The team entered a squad of 18 (two of them being unknown). Six out of them did not start. The national team were drawn in Group B with Denmark and host nation, Germany.[7]
Afghanistan did not participate in 1976 due to a boycott, in 1984 due to a boycott and was barred from the 2000 Summer Olympics to its discrimination against women under the rule of the Taliban.
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