Afghanistan national buzkashi team heads to Kyrgyzstan for global competition
Afghanistan’s sports authority says the country’s national buzkashi team has departed for Kyrgyzstan to take part in the 2026 World Nomad Games.
According to the authority, Ghulam Sarwar Jalal, president of the National Federation of Buzkashi, javelin and local sports of Afghanistan, is heading the team. Qari Zabihullah Hajizada is accompanying the squad as coach, while Ibrahim Turkman is serving as referee.
The Afghanistan sports authority said 10 selected chapan-daz riders are also included in the team. The members named were Gulbadin Pahlawan, Basir Baba Ashour Pahlawan, Abdulsalam Imaq Pahlawan, Abdulwahab Pahlawan, Ahmad Pahlawan, Ilyas Pahlawan, Abdulrashid Pahlawan, Samiullah Pahlawan, Sadrulhaq Pahlawan and Rohullah Qyumi Pahlawan.
The authority said the trip aims to enable the country’s athletes to compete internationally and to showcase Afghanistan’s authentic sports and culture. Buzkashi is considered one of Afghanistan’s traditional and well-known sports and has a large following in several provinces of the country.
