Afghans arrive for Games

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 21

Afghans arrive for Games

■ NZPA-Reuter Moscow Boxers and wrestlers from I Afghanistan became the immediate focus of attention at the week-end when they appeared for sparring .’practice at the Moscow iOlympci village. ; Exactly how many memibers there are in the team I was hard to establish, possi- ; bly because :ven of Afghainistan’s Olympic wrestlers [were last we ’: reported to ‘have fled to Pakistan rather [than go to Moscow.

One of the boxers who ifought an exhibition bout ion Sunday for a delighted [Western cameraman said [there were just four boxers’ >and six wrestlers in the-! [national squad. , The village press centre! said there were 13 in the! [team, including officials, but’ la Russian who answered the.’ [team’s telephone insisted. I that Afghanistan had sent 15[ boxers and wrestlers. Gulam Sakhi Hassanik, | leader of the Afghan team.l told a reporter by telephone! that the wrestlers who de-1 fec.ted had not been selected; for Moscow.

Earlier this year, seven | members of Afghanistan’s! soccer team defected to I West. Germany and in an-j other incident a number of; the national hockey team! members were, killed when; Afghan rebels attacked their! bus as it was returning from' a tournament in the Soviet, Union.