The growing participation of young athletes in traditional Zurkhana wrestling competitions reflects continuing efforts to preserve Afghanistan’s historic sporting heritage.
Kabul | By Taieb Khatizwal
The National Zurkhana Sports Federation, in coordination with the Kabul Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, has launched a traditional wrestling competition featuring more than 200 athletes from seven clubs across Kabul.
The tournament is being held at the federation’s gymnasium and is scheduled to continue until the 19th of the current month. Competitors are participating in junior and youth age categories as part of efforts to identify promising athletes for future competitions and development programs.
Before the start of the event, federation officials organized a seminar for participating wrestlers focused on the rules and regulations of Zurkhana wrestling, aiming to improve athletes’ technical understanding and adherence to competition standards.
Organizers stated that the competition is intended not only to strengthen athlete selection pathways but also to preserve and promote one of Afghanistan’s traditional sporting disciplines among younger generations.
Zurkhana wrestling remains an important part of Afghanistan’s traditional sports culture, with local federations increasingly organizing structured competitions and training programs to sustain the sport’s relevance and encourage wider youth participation.