Asia's Most Dangerous Game

Written by: Farkhunda & Ayari

Asia’s most dangerous game is the national sport of Afghanistan which dates back to 330 BC. The game is usually played in the northern and northeastern parts of Afghanistan during fall and spring seasons. This game is not only played in Afghanistan but is also popular amongst Central Asian tribes such as the Kazakhs, Tajiks, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, and Uighurs. Different from other games which use a ball in the field, this game uses an animal as its “ball”, a headless goat carcass, which is soaked in water 24 hours before the game starts so that it can harden. One might think that this game is called “Asia’s most dangerous game” only because an animal is being used. However, during games, one can get injured badly and might need an injection to temporarily numb the wounded area, as no one is allowed to quit the game. The game is played with men on horseback called “Chapandaz'' trying to pull the goat to the targeted circle. This is why the game is called “Buzcashi'' which translates to “goat pulling” or “goat grabbing” in Dari (an Afghan dialect of Persian).

There are different beliefs on the origin of Buzkashi, but there are two main beliefs that are widely accepted: the first one was during the time of Alexander the Great (ancient Greek’s king) and the second one was during the empire of Genghis Khan (the emperor of the Mongol empire). Both of them invaded Afghanistan in the time of their empire. The first belief about the origin of the game dates back to 330 BC, during the empire of Alexander the Great. It is said that the Aryan combatant, the native people of Persia, ambushed and physically slammed Alexander’s army alive. This is similar to how in Buzkashi, players pull at a dead goat carcass. The second belief was that the Turkic people started Buzkashi and it spread to China between the 10th and 15th centuries. Since then, this game has become a legacy for Afghanistan and other central Asian countries and tribes. Thus, making the origin of the game seem like it was used as a tool of war and protection. Now, it has turned to a sport and is a form of entertainment during the days of the Nawroz (Afghan New Year’s Eve), weddings and Eid days.

Buzkashi has three rules. Firstly, the “ball” must be held either by hand or wrapped by legs. Secondly, all players must remain on their horses unless one of them falls off due to an accident. Lastly, players are allowed to whip their own horse as well as the opponent’s horse, but it is not permitted to directly hit the other player to prevent any unnecessary injury. The games take place in a vast flat field with the choice of grass or plain. Considering how the game field has no boundaries, each game progresses openly, while it can be dangerous at times as the spectators are exposed to constant danger and are required to move out quickly if the herd comes close.

Though it seems that Buzkashi is a complex game, it is actually quite simple. The game is structured with two groups of male players riding their horse and trying to put the “ball” - a goat carcass - into a targeted circle. The group that puts the “ball” into the targeted circle the most, wins. Furthermore, each individual who scores a point receives money as a reward. This reward differs depending on where the game is played. For instance, places in China offer about 500 yuan (USD $85).

After discussing the history, rules and structure of the game, it seems that Buzkashi is worth watching, despite its potential risks. Unlike other popular games like soccer and rugby where each spectator sits in a selected seat, Buzkashi allows each spectator to feel like they are truly part of the game as there are no boundaries between the players and watchers. This is the thrilling experience one gets in exchange for danger. Thus, this unusual game stimulates curiosity for many people. At the same time, it touches on moral concern. As Buzkashi uses an animal carcass as opposed to regular sports equipment, such as American footballs which are made of cow skin (leather), it allows us to ask ourselves whether the use of such an unprocessed product (the carcass) is ethical. To sum up, Buzkashi is a very interesting sport in many aspects and hopefully, this article told you a little more about Afghanistan’s fascinating national sport!

Edited by: Gisele & Liann

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Bibliography:

Bradshaw, Luke. “Buzkashi: Afghanistan's Goat-Grabbing National Sport.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip, 24 Mar. 2017, theculturetrip.com/asia/afghanistan/articles/buzkashi-afghanistans-goat-grabbing-national-sport/.

“Buzkashi; The Thousand-Year-Old Tradition of the Afghan People .” Sputnik Afghanistan, Sputnik Dari Https, 15 Aug. 2018,

sptnkne.ws/khnh.

Carberry, Sean, and Sultan Faizy. “Buzkashi.” NPR, NPR, 4 May 2014, apps.npr.org/buzkashi/.

Scally, Patrick. “Buzkashi Explained: Mysterious Rules and Traditions.” GoKunming, 22 Sept. 2015, www.gokunming.com/en/blog/item/3581/buzkashi-explained-mysterious-rules-and-traditions.

The Story of Buzkashi: All about Buzkashi: Origin of Buzkashi.” Sportsmatic Everything Sports , 31 July 2019,

sportsmatik.com/sports-corner/sports-know-how/buzkashi/.