The federal capital on Sunday witnessed matchless skills, accuracy and perfection displayed by the horsemen in the National Tent Pegging Championship 2024 organized by the Pakistan Tent Pegging Association at the Islamabad Polo Club.
Around 30 teams, 120 horsemen (some are internationally renowned and gold medalists) from across the country participated in the two-day event that was inaugurated by Ambassador of Egypt MrIhab Mohamed Abdelhamid Hassan jointly with President of the association MrAdil Shah.
The event was unique in the sense it was organized in the serene surroundings of the Rawal Lake away from the din and clamour of the city.
During the entire course of competition, best sportsmanship was displayed and the spectators enjoyed the electrifying moments particularly when a contestant while riding the fast-moving horse pierced the target with a lance and then waved this trophy in the air proudly.
Besides the Egyptian ambassador a number of renowned personalities attended the two day event including Col Bilal Waheed, Omer Butt, Col Omer Niazi and SSP Elite Force Abdul Samad Khan.
According to the results, Muhammadi Haideri Ghazi Ittehad Club of Faisalabad bagged the first prize, The Islamabad Ghazi Club was declared second while the third prize went to the Pindi Ghazi Club Rawalpindi.
While talking to Pakistan Observer, MrAdil Shah the chief organizer of the championship said the event was first of its kind held on the spacious and even grounds of the Islamabad Polo Club and its success demonstrated the increasing public interest in the indigenous sport of this region which is around 3,000 years old.
The aim to organize this event is to promote in our youth this region’s ancient and original sports as well as highlight the historical and cultural heritage, he said.
Mr Shah regretted horse riding or equestrian sport was being neglected both at the government and the provincial level. This is our original sport and a real test of the mettle but unfortunately, it is put on the backburner and only individual efforts are made to revive and restore such glorious physical challenges.
“We are launching a tent-pegging academy soon after the Eid-al-Fitr as youngsters keep contacting us for training and guidance where they can learn horse-riding and other equestrian sports,” said he.
According to a spectator, Ali, it was indeed a breath-taking competition as the horsemen’s control over a racing horse and at the same time keeping the balance, targeting the wooden peg and finally piercing it with one strike of the lance is quite mesmerizing.
Adil Shah is Pakistan’s first equestrian journalist and publishes the world renowned Monthly Horse & Horseman. He termed President Asif Ali Zardari’s inauguration a good sign for the country, particularly for horse-riding and other equestrian sports.
Mr Zardari’s passion for horses is legendary, he said. About the event’s success he said it was the result of teamwork. He particularly mentioned Ashraf Hayat Gondal who had come all the way from Canada and Raja Masood of Mirpur AJK for making the event a great competition.
The organizers also commended the hard work of two seasoned ‘judges’ of the competition NisarBarsa and Malik Munir for supervising and adjudging the event quite professionally.
