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Westerners test their mettle at World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan / Photo: © AFP
Westerners test their mettle at World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan
From wrestling horseback to battling for control of a headless goat, Central Asia's unique sports have been in the spotlight this week as Kyrgyzstan hosts the World Nomad Games, a biannual competition dedicated to nomadic traditions.
Some 4,000 participants from 90 countries have been taking part in this year's games, many of them Westerners who had never played the sports before.
Held on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul –- a vast mountain lake in northern Kyrgyzstan -- athletes have been competing in dozens of disciplines: from intellectual board games to arm-wrestling.
Among the main events is kok-boru, a horseback sport where riders must gain control of a goat carcass and throw it into the opponent's goal.
"The more countries that play and take an interest, the more our game will grow and develop," said Aidarkan Anarbekov, a forward for the Kyrgyzstan national team.
"We hope it will reach world-class status."
Despite not being played widely outside Central Asia, the sport has proved popular among foreigners, many playing for the first time.
Afton Caldwell, playing for the United States, said it was an "honour" to compete alongside his opponents.
His team was trounced 16–7 by the Kyrgyz side, the clear favourites to win.
"That's my first game I've ever played, honestly," the 38-year-old said.
The competition, which started in 2014, is held every two years and is next scheduled to be hosted in Russia's Tatarstan region.
This year's games are set to conclude on Sunday.
S. Soares--JDB
