Sport of the Week – Buzkashi

Sport of the Week – Buzkashi - with John Hartley and Geoff Peterfy 0:00 7:02

Imagine if you were playing handball on horses. Now swap out the ball for a headless calf and you have Buzkashi.

Orginated in Central Asia where it translates to “goat pulling” in the 10th century. Under Taliban control, Afghanistan banned the game because the Taliban considered it immoral. Let that sink in. Started with tribes literally stealing goats and strategies being created to prevent it.

Sometimes considered the Most Dangerous sport because riders carry whips to attempt to hit the calf out of opponents hands.

Variation was popular in Cleveland around the 1940s where there were several teams playing with a sheepskin-covered ball.

Basic Afghan Olympic Committee rules set the game to two 45 minute halves, 5 players to a side,

goals are 3.6 meters wide by 1.5 meters high soccer is 7.3w x 2.44h) Hockey is 1.8w x 1.2h

Traditional games lasted 3-4 days.