Mohammad Yusuf Jahangir, captain of Afghanistan’s Muay Thai national team, defeated Turkish opponent “Mehmet Ali Merk” in the under-75kg final to claim Afghanistan’s first-ever gold medal in the Islamic Solidarity Games.
The competition took place in Riyadh, and Jahangir had previously defeated competitors from Indonesia and Saudi Arabia before reaching the final.
When Afghanistan’s national flag was raised and the national anthem played, the Afghan fighter shed tears on the podium.
This historic moment was extremely significant for Afghan sports, as it marked the first time an Afghan athlete had won gold in these competitions.
The 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games began on November 4th and continue until November 21st.
Afghanistan ranks 20th with this single gold medal, while Turkey leads with 105 medals.
