In a vivid celebration of Afghan culture and tradition, the nation’s most prestigious buzkashi tournament brought together some of the finest equestrians for a thrilling final match on the outskirts of Kabul. With high-ranking Taliban officials present, this annual event not only showcases the athletic prowess of its participants but also signifies a harmonious return of traditional sports to Afghanistan’s landscape, reflecting the resilience and enduring spirit of its people.
Horsemen from across Afghanistan converged for the dramatic final match of the nation’s prestigious annual buzkashi tournament on Kabul’s outskirts, attracting crowds that included high-ranking Taliban officials witnessing this centuries-old sporting tradition. Buzkashi, Afghanistan’s national equestrian competition, showcases elite riders who must carry a leather-wrapped bundle – historically a goat carcass but now a weighted facsimile – across a designated goal line to earn points. Amid swirling dust clouds kicked up by galloping horses, a victor ultimately prevailed. The winning team took a celebratory circuit around the field, proudly displaying their flag in triumph.
Afghanistan’s cherished buzkashi tournament maintains its status as a traditional sport characterized by limited formal rules and fierce physical competition. In its classic format, two teams compete to score using what was traditionally a goat carcass, though contemporary matches utilize a leather-and-rope substitute filled with straw to replicate the weight of an animal. Competitors – with 12 riders on each side – demonstrate extraordinary horsemanship, stretching dangerously from their mounts to retrieve the bundle from the ground before racing towards the goal while pursued by opposing riders.
Though the sport faced prohibition during the Taliban’s earlier governance in the 1990s, buzkashi experienced a renaissance following their removal and has continued since their return to power in 2021, with government officials now attending competitions. In this week’s championship, northern Sar-e-Pul province overwhelmed northeastern Badakhshan with a commanding 7-0 victory, concluding the 11-day national tournament. Baghlan claimed third place, while Kunduz finished fourth among the 11 provincial teams competing.
The competition featured eight international participants from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to Atal Mashwani, spokesman for Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports. Corporate sponsorship from a petrol company funded the tournament, providing automobiles as prizes for the top four teams, alongside trophies, medals, and certificates. Thousands of male spectators filled the stands at the central Kabul venue, with enthusiastic fans even climbing nearby trees and electricity pylons to gain better vantage points of the action. The resurgence of buzkashi signals a vibrant chapter in Afghanistan’s sporting culture, bringing people together in celebration and unity.
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