Ghazni hosts javelin-riding competition among 32 teams from 6 provinces — Pajhwok

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): A three-day javelin-riding competition featuring 32 teams and 128 athletes from six provinces has concluded in Andar district of southern Ghazni, with Ghazni, Khost and Paktika securing first place in three categories. The competition was hosted by Ghazni province in the Miri Bazaar area of Andar district, with athletes from Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Maidan Wardak and Zabul provinces taking part. Organisers said 32 teams and 128 athletes competed in three categories: single javelin, line javelin and section javelin. Ghulam Sarwar Jalal, head of the Afghanistan Javelin and Buzkashi Federation, said the tournament was organised in coordination with the federation and Olympic authorities, with financial support from young people, tribal elders and businessmen in Andar district. He said javelin riding was one of Afghanistan’s traditional sports and that such competitions helped identify talented athletes and prepare them for national and international events. Jalal said Afghanistan had recently participated in international javelin-riding competitions and efforts were being made to send Afghan athletes to competitions in other countries in the future. He added that the Afghanistan Javelin Riding League was scheduled to begin on Dec. 5. Athletes from southern provinces would compete in javelin riding, while those from northern provinces would compete in buzkashi. Bilal Mujahid, head of physical education and sports in Ghazni, said the competition aimed to strengthen…