Afghanistan participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002.

The Afghanistan national football team played its first international match since the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualification phase.

An English teacher from Kabul, Roia Zamani, won a bronze medal in the 72 kg middleweight class of taekwondo without winning a single match.

For example, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) does not allow players to have beards and mustaches, but Afghan males were forbidden to cut their facial hair.

[7][8] Afghanistan returned to the Asian Games after the fall of the Taliban government in the midst of ongoing war.

Sadeq Naqshbande lost to Sergey Rychko of Kazakhstan after referee stopped the contest (RSC).

Sayed Haroon Sadat was the only Afghan boxer who completed his bout, losing to Kumar Adhikari of Nepal by a points difference of 11–13.

The last international match played by Afghanistan against any nation was during the qualification stage for the AFC Asian Cup in 1984.

[24] Wahid Ahmad Joya competed in the kumite −75 kg event of karate held in the Yangsan College Gymnasium.

[31][32] Hakima Khashai and Fatima Hamidi both were defeated by Malaysian opponents after the referee stopped the contest (RSC).

[33][34] Roia Zamani, an English teacher from Kabul, won a bronze medal in the 72 kg middleweight class without winning a single match.

[36] In the semifinal, she withdrew in the middle of match due to severe injuries, in which she was lagging behind by nil to four points.

Mancher advanced to a repechage round, but lost to Wang Yuanyuan of China by a points difference of 0–10.