To revive traditional games, tug of war contest held in Bamyan

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): To promote, revive and introduce local sports, a tug of war (rope pulling) game involving 100 athletes was held in central Bamyan province, officials said on Saturday.

Acting provincial sports department head Sayed Kafil Mosavi told Pajhwok Afghan News 100 athletes participated in the tug of war match watched by hundreds of spectators in the provincial capital Bamyan City.

The match was organized by the Directorate of Sports to promote and introduce traditional games, Mosavi said.

The game was widely welcomed by local residents who said such games had been ignored and forgotten.

An elder Nazir Haidari said traditional games were important cultural attractions of Bamyan province, but these games disappeared with the passage of time and most young people were not even familiar with these sports.

He recalled in the past tug of war, wrestling, stone throwing, Buzkashi, Ghorsai and other local sports would be arranged and had considerable supporters in the community.

Haidari believed if these sports were paid no attention, they would become distinct and Bamyan would lose cultural attractions. He said organizing the tug of war would revive ancient sports.

Bamyan residents asked the authorities to pay more attention to such games.

Sports Directorate officials said their department was trying to revive all traditional games through a well arranged plan.

aw/ma

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