Every weekend, fighters from around Afghanistan gather on a public field in the capital to pit their skills against each other in a sport that is a mix of judo and wrestling.
The informal gatherings attract big partisan crowds, with fans cheering for their favorites — usually someone from their home district — and jeering those they want to see lose.
“I have been fighting for 17 years,” said Mohammad Atef, a well-built 31-year-old from Samangan Province in northern Afghanistan, after disposing of his opponent with an expert throw. “It is popular in Samangan, Kunduz, Baghlan — and there are many famous wrestlers in Sheberghan, too.”
Photo: AFP
Judo and wresting are particularly popular in the north, with villages and districts producing local champions that they put forward for regional contests and even national glory.
The discipline that the Afghans exhibit on the dusty field is a mix of both, with referees to make sure an obscure set of rules is followed and to declare a winner.
Bouts are usually settled quickly — a fight rarely lasts longer than one or two minutes — with opponents giving each other a sporting hug no matter the result.
“Today, my competitor was from Kunduz,” Atef said after disposing of his rival with an acrobatic throw. “I used a spiral technique and I finally defeated him.”
Matches are made by promoters who choose opponents based on a combination of weight and record.
There is a small purse for the winner and although gambling is officially banned by the Taliban, it is clear that side bets are made on the bouts — with money furtively changing hands between spectators after each fight.
Hekmat, a 21-year-old also from Samangan, is just starting his career and was beaming after his first victory of the weekend.
“It is about 10 years that I am wrestling ... from childhood,” he said. “I have just come to Kabul in recent months after I have wrestled in other provinces and districts.”
There was no sign of the Taliban in the crowd gathered in Kabul — those present said that the group eschews physical contests.
“We organize this ourselves,” one referee said. “This is not for the Taliban.”
Nottingham Forest FC are to go into the Europa League play-off round after a 4-0 win over Ferencvaros TC on Thursday, while Celtic FC secured their place in the knockout phase with a victory over FC Utrecht. Aston Villa FC finished second in the league phase after recovering from two goals down to beat FC Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 with their spot in the last 16 already assured. Forest stood an outside chance of climbing into the top eight going into the final round of matches, but needed to beat Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros and rely on other results going their way. Sean Dyche’s
HEATED RIVALRY: The pair had met 14 times previously, with Sabalenka winning eight of the encounters and entering the final as the favorite to take the title Elena Rybakina took revenge over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win a nail-biting Australian Open final yesterday and clinch her second Grand Slam title. The big-serving Kazakh fifth seed held her nerve to pull through 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne in 2 hours, 18 minutes. It was payback after the Belarusian Sabalenka won the 2023 final between two of the hardest hitters in women’s tennis. The ice-cool Rybakina, 26, who was born in Moscow, adds her Melbourne triumph to her Wimbledon win in 2022. It was more disappointment in a major final for Sabalenka, who won the US Open
Denver superstar Nikola Jokic returned from a 16-game injury absence to post a 31-point, 12-rebound double-double on Friday and propel the Nuggets to a 122-109 NBA victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic had not played since suffering a bone bruise in the left knee he hyperextended in a game against Miami on Dec. 29 last year. The Serbian big man did not miss a beat. He led all scorers, connecting on eight of 11 shots from the field, and also handed out five assists with three steals while playing just 24 minutes, 32 seconds as the
BATTERED AND BRUISED: Alcaraz suffered a cramp in the third set, but was allowed treatment despite Zverev’s protests, and continued on to win in five-and-a-half hours An ailing Carlos Alcaraz battled past Alexander Zverev yesterday in five epic sets to reach his first Australian Open final and move within a match of becoming the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam. The world No. 1 outlasted the German third seed 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 over a titanic 5 hours, 27 minutes in hot conditions to head to tomorrow’s title match. He only narrowly avoided crashing out after a huge fright at 4-4 in the third set when he pulled up in pain with what appeared to be cramp. He was allowed to have treatment
RSS