The Afghan curling team held a training session on Sunday ahead of their match in the “Winter Games” in the central province of Bamiyan.

Women curling athletes are also attending the event, said Halima Rezee, the chairperson of Women’s Curling Federation Committee.

“We have the membership of Afghanistan’s Curling Federation, but we have a problem and that is that we don’t have a budget and a filed,” Rezaee said.

She said curling is a new sport in the country and it is not supported by relevant government institutions. She added the fans of this sport are increasing.

“It is three years that this sport has been introduced in Bamiyan. Last year, a curling competition was held in Band-e-Amir and it will happen in the same place this year,” said Zainab Asghari, a curling athlete. “I have more interest in this sport and I will participate in this year’s competition as well.”

Gul Ahmad, another curling athlete, said lack of equipment is the main problem for improvement of the sport in the country.

The one-month winter festival is aimed at celebrating winter and promoting tourism in Bamiyan.

Some featured events of the festival will be skiing, ice skating, curling, snowboarding and biathlon.