Buzkashi which literally translated means “goat grabbing” is the national sport of Afghanistan. This traditional game is played on horseback, similar to polo, but instead of a ball, it’s a headless goat carcass that players are maneuvering around the field of play. The goal is simple, though getting there can be brutal. The task of the two opposing team is to take the goat carcass away from the opponents, transport it around the field and throw it into the circle of rivals.
The game consists of two main forms: Tudabarai and Qarajai
TUDABARAI
Tudabarai is considered to be the simpler form of the game. The aim is simply to maintain possession of the carcass and the rules are minimal. In this version, the goal is simply to grab the goat and move in any direction until clear of the other players. The least organized version, begins play with as many as 500 riders in a scrum surrounding the carcass; beating one another with whips as they fought over the goat. Eventually, one rider, known as a Chapandaz, will dipped to the ground and grabbed with one hand the goat carcass riding away from the initial circle in any direction getting clear. A rider cannot secure the carcass onto their saddle nor they hit an opponent on the hand or knock the carcass away. Everything else is fair game. Boundaries are often decided by the landscape and punching, kicking and even forcing players into rivers is all common place.
The winning rider will remain free of the others until the game is called. There are no teams in Tudabarai form, games can last several days.
QARAJAI
In Qarajai, the task is much more complex. This is a team game consisting of at least two players per team, with an equal number on each side. Players 경마사이트 must carry the carcass around a flag or marker at one end of the field, then throw it into a designated circle also known as the circle of justice, at the other end. But before it can be dropped into the scoring circle, the carcass must be passed three times from one player to another player on the team. If the goat is dropped/lost, the pass count is reset to zero. Successfully dropping the goat in the scoring circle counts as one point, and ends a round of play. The first team to score three points wins. There are no time limits.
In each version of the game, points are awarded for successfully completing the task of getting control of the carcass, and getting it to the proper scoring area. The winner of each match receives prizes which have been put up by a sponsor. The top prizes are usually money, or fine clothes.
