GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): A three-day javelin-riding competition featuring 32 teams and 128 athletes from six provinces has concluded in Andar district of southern Ghazni, with Ghazni, Khost and Paktika securing first place in three categories.
The competition was hosted by Ghazni province in the Miri Bazaar area of Andar district, with athletes from Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Maidan Wardak and Zabul provinces taking part.
Organisers said 32 teams and 128 athletes competed in three categories: single javelin, line javelin and section javelin.
Ghulam Sarwar Jalal, head of the Afghanistan Javelin and Buzkashi Federation, said the tournament was organised in coordination with the federation and Olympic authorities, with financial support from young people, tribal elders and businessmen in Andar district.
He said javelin riding was one of Afghanistan’s traditional sports and that such competitions helped identify talented athletes and prepare them for national and international events.
Jalal said Afghanistan had recently participated in international javelin-riding competitions and efforts were being made to send Afghan athletes to competitions in other countries in the future.
He added that the Afghanistan Javelin Riding League was scheduled to begin on Dec. 5. Athletes from southern provinces would compete in javelin riding, while those from northern provinces would compete in buzkashi.
Bilal Mujahid, head of physical education and sports in Ghazni, said the competition aimed to strengthen sporting ties among provinces, promote unity and cooperation among athletes, and develop javelin riding in Ghazni.
He said Ghazni finished first, Khost second and Paktika third in the single-javelin category. In line javelin, Khost took first place, followed by Ghazni and Paktika. In section javelin, Paktika finished first, Paktia second and Ghazni third.
Participating athletes welcomed the competition, saying events involving athletes from different provinces provided an opportunity to gain experience and improve their skills.
Haji Niaz Mohammad, a javelin rider from Paktika, said competitions involving athletes from different provinces provided valuable experience and helped participants improve their abilities.
He expressed hope that such competitions would be expanded in the future and encourage more young people to take up the traditional sport.
Two Ghazni athletes, Hazratullah Rehan and Nik Mohammad, also described javelin riding as one of Afghanistan’s ancient traditional sports.
They called for suitable grounds to be built for the sport and for some of its traditional disciplines to be further developed.
At the end of the competition, the federation and tournament organisers awarded 70cc motorcycles and cash prizes to the winners of each category, while second- and third-place winners received trophies.
Javelin riding is considered one of Afghanistan’s traditional sports and is associated with horse riding. It is still practised in several provinces as both a sport and part of the country’s traditional culture.
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