Afghanistan’s eight-member pahlawani delegation has traveled to the United Arab Emirates to compete in the 23rd Rustami Wrestling World Championships starting Wednesday.
Kabul | By Sara Amiri
Afghanistan’s national pahlawani team, consisting of four athletes, two coaches and two officials, departed on Tuesday for the United Arab Emirates to take part in the 23rd Rustami Wrestling World Championships.
The event will open on Wednesday in Fujairah and will run until the eighth of the month, with athletes from 35 countries expected to compete. Organizers said the championships will feature contests in two styles, freestyle and classic, which remain core disciplines of traditional pahlawani wrestling.
Team officials said the Afghan delegation is prepared for strong representation in both styles during one of the largest gatherings on the sport’s annual calendar.
Pahlawani, a historic form of wrestling practiced across Central and South Asia, maintains deep cultural roots in Afghanistan. Afghan athletes have participated in multiple editions of the Rustami World Championships, using the event to showcase traditional skill and maintain the country’s presence on the global wrestling stage.