KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Alireza Asahi, one of Afghanistan’s most celebrated athletes and a World Bodybuilding Champion, has tragically passed away today.
The Afghanistan Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation confirmed his death, stating that Asahi died in Kabul. However, the exact cause of his death has not been disclosed.
In a statement, the federation announced that Asahi’s funeral will take place tomorrow, Friday, at the public cemetery in the Omid Sabz neighborhood in western Kabul.
Sources close to the athlete suggest that Asahi may have succumbed to an illness, though no further details have been provided.
His passing has sent shockwaves through Afghanistan’s sports community, especially within bodybuilding, where he was considered a prominent figure.
Asahi made history by winning gold at the 14th World Bodybuilding Championship in Seoul, South Korea, in 2023 in the over 80 kg weight category. He followed this achievement with another gold at the same competition in the Maldives in 2024.
He was renowned for his physical prowess and his unwavering dedication to his sport. His accomplishments brought global recognition to Afghanistan’s bodybuilding, and he was regarded as an inspiration by many young athletes.