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Issy-kul, Kyrgyzstan Sep 12 Kok-boru – Traditional Kyrgyz Horseback Competition​.

Kok-boru, which translates to English as gray wolf, has its origins in the distant past, from a time when men went to go hunt for prey to feed their families and cattle remained under the supervision of elders, women and youth. Wolves often attacked livestock and caused many problems. After returning from the hunt, angry men would go to chase after the wolf pack. Having caught up with the pack, they would pick up running wolves from the ground, throwing them between each other almost playfully. The game today requires teams to throw a dead sheep or goat into their opponent’s well on the playing field.

The main goal of the game in the past was training for fighting. While playing kok-boru, men and horses were taught to be fearless. The game trained men to be courageous, brave, and daring, qualities needed by warriors.

Kok-Boru, or “Blue Wolf,” is the national sport of Kyrgyzstan. It’s played by two teams of expert horsemen, and the object is to score points by throwing a goat carcass into a muddy hole at the end of the pitch.

The game has changed slightly in recent years, with new rules added and more organized matches in public venues. Thanks to international events like the World Nomad Games (first hosted in Kyrgyzstan in 2014) Kok-Boru is gaining popularity in Central Asia, and is garnering attention abroad.

This game took place on Nooruz 2015 (March 21st) in the National Hippodrome in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.