“As national sports go, Kok-Boru is not for the faint hearted. Teams of horsemen compete to throw the headless body of a sheep into their opponents' goal, in a contest that resembles polo in all but the choice of projectile.
Also known as ‘goat grabbing,’ the sport is played across central Asia but is particularly popular in Kyrgyzstan. The Presidential Cup was held in the capital Bishkek this week. Rival teams must wrestle the mutilated carcass out of their opponents' control in order to launch their own attacks, meaning collisions, falls and injuries are common.”
Source The Telegraph. 28 March 2008. Headless Sheep? Playing Polo in Kyrgyzstan.
It’s holiday today. I woke up to a sheep’s bleating coming from the back of the yurt. Men are preparing the ball. In the afternoon, everybody will gather in the steppes. The game begins and riders rush at full speed. Regularly, we almost lose sight of them. Then, vibrations of the ground caused by galloping horses amplify, and we end up in the middle of the game again. The battle is fierce, and it’s better to take some distance.
Hearing the sheep’s sounds in the morning makes me think of the importance of sheep in traditional, nomadic life. Sheep is the main ingredient on the plate. Its fermented milk is used for drinking. Without the 130–170 kg of wool a sheep produces, it’s not possible to build homes, the yurts. Not mentioning clothing, hats and carpets. And it’s even used for having fun! ––AZ
