What is buzkashi? Here’s how Afghans preserve the centuries-old national game
- Competitors ride their horses as they try to grab onto a goat
The sport has many fans among the war-weary people in Afghanistan.
The sport has many fans among the war-weary people in Afghanistan.
Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
Buzkashi is the centuries-old national game of Afghanistan. Competitors ride their horses as they try to grab onto a goat.
Many people in Afghanistan keep horses to compete for the championship and earn renown.
“The horse is a symbol of bravery; it is a loyal animal, and that is why the people of Afghanistan love it,” said Sayed Karim Hashimi, a horse keeper in the northern Balkh province.
Hashimi is the head of a local company Yama Petroleum Group and the chief of its buzkashi team.
As a national game, the buzkashi tournament is held among several provinces, with the annual championship in the national capital, Kabul.