Horse riders attend a game of Buzkashi, or "goat grabbing," in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

 

Horse riders compete during a game of Buzkashi in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

 

People watch a game of Buzkashi, or "goat grabbing", in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

 
Noor Mohammad Aka, a retired Buzkashi champion, surveys the field of play at the national Buzkashi championship in Kabul and is very pleased with what he sees.

"With the return of peace, we can celebrate our traditional sport. Security has improved so much that countless people are gathered here to enjoy the game without worry," said Aka.

The aged spectator from Baghlan in the north of the country attributes the success of the competition to the tight security ensured by the Taliban.

Since the change of government in August last year, no major security incidents have been reported. The end of the war has been declared and a central government has extended its rule across the entire country for the first time in almost 40 years.

Buzkashi is the Afghan version of a game a bit like polo, played across all of Central Asia. Two teams of horsemen compete to grab a goat carcass and carry it through a goal. Teams from 14 provinces and thousands of spectators attend the 10-day competition until March 6.

"Buzkashi is central to the culture and history of Afghanistan," Anayatullah Sadeq, chairman of the Buzkashi federation, told Xinhua. As many as 15,000 spectators have turned up each day, he said.

Kashmir Khan, 35, from the Kunduz province, is a big fan of Buzkashi.

"It's the favorite game of me and my whole family. I came from Kunduz five days ago and I am staying in a hotel to watch the games," he said. "I am very satisfied with the improving security situation. It makes me hopeful that our economic problems will be solved soon."