A district-level competition in Zabul underscores how grassroots sport continues to provide structure and participation opportunities for young athletes.
Zabul | By Nisar Ahmad Sapand
The staging of a martial arts competition in Shajoy district points to the persistence of grassroots sport in Zabul Province. Organized by the provincial Department of Physical Education and Sports, the event brought together 16 athletes from two clubs competing in the “Tawan” style of martial arts.
The bouts were held across youth and adult age categories, with athletes from the Ustad Rozi Mohammad Club securing first place overall. Beyond the rankings, the competition functioned as an organized outlet for discipline and athletic development in a setting where sustained leagues and regular competitive structures remain limited.
Martial arts occupy a distinct role in provinces such as Zabul, where individual sports often compensate for the lack of developed team-sport infrastructure. District-level tournaments like this one, driven by local institutions and clubs, continue to stabilize youth engagement in sport despite the absence of long-term, centralized development systems.