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Buzkashi in Uzbekistan refers to goat grabbing and is the national sport of Afghanistan. The game dates back to the 13th century, when Genghis Khan ruled the country. Buzkashi can be related to the Afghan antiquity and many of the modern sports like polo and horseball originate from Buzkashi. Buzkashi in Uzbekistan is played in the months of October and continues till March. Though Buzkashi had its birth in Afghanistan, yet it is practiced in Uzbekistan and is regarded as the central Asian game. Buzkashi is one of the Uzbekistan sports and is played on horseback. The game centers round a carcass of a goat or calf. The riders on horseback will have to grab the carcass full gallop. The players focuses on the carcass, grab it, take it away from the other players and place it across the goal line or the target circle. The horses need to be specially trained in order to participate in the game. The game is fierce and the players dress heavily in order to protect themselves from the whips and boots of other players, who compete to win the game.
It is not only one among the Uzbekistan sports, but is also a popular sport practiced by the Hazaras, Kyrgyz, Turkmens, Kazakhs and so on. Buzkashi is known as the Kokboru in Turkey, as Turks regard the grey wolf as a symbol of holiness. Buzkashi in Uzbekistan is also played in special occasions like wedding and nawroz.
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