Larry Memmott's Blog

Kok-boru is the national sport of Kyrgyzstan. On September 1, Independence Day for Kyrgyzstan, top diplomats were invited to watch the finals of the President’s Cup, the national championship. Here are some photos I got and a bit of explanation.

For starters, maybe a bit of an explanation of the game. Here is what Wikipedia says: “Buzkashi, Kok-boru or Oglak Tartis is a traditional Central Asian team sport played on horseback. The steppes’ people were skilled riders who could grab a goat or calf from the ground while riding a horse at full gallop. The goal of a player is to grab the carcass of a headless goat or calf and then get it clear of the other players and pitch it across a goal line or into a target circle or vat.”

So, I don’t know much about the game yet, but they set these two guys against each other, clearly with the idea that one of them should grab that goat up off of the ground. They had a hard time of it, though.

You can hardly even see the carcass of the goat in the dust on the ground, but look at how the horsemen use their horses almost as weapons against each other.

The guy in red is keeping his opponent as far from the goat as possible.

Look at the manes on those horses! Our friend in the maroon is pushing through!

But even though he’s moving his opponent, he can’t get the goat himself.

He may be getting frustrated – lifting that whip in anger. It’s not clear to me that much of anything is considered foul play in kok-boru.

I’m not sure how the determination was made, but somebody decided that this match was a stalemate, and the rest of the players were let loose to create havoc and see if the goat could be shaken loose.

This is looking like he’s going to get it.

But no, he lost it again and now the maroon team is going for it!

The red shirts are right on him, trying to stop him.

One of them has muscled his way in, again.

And they are off!!! Now racing toward the goal, and still fighting for control of the goat!

All the players converging on the one with the goat . . .

He’s pulling ahead, though, defended by his teammates.

But look at this guy coming in . . .

Now we’re on our way!

He seems to have the goat well in hand . . .

He actually failed to make the goal on that run, but let’s switch to one of his teammates, just a few minutes later, who is more successful.

This guy is definitely bringing it home. And look at his horse. That animal knows what it is doing. In fact, specially bred and trained kok-boru horses sell for as much as $15,000!

And here the goat goes into the goal!!!!!

I may have a new favorite sport! Definitely, I need to attend some more matches!