Major tent pegging contest held in Pakistan

Renowned teams and clubs from across Pakistan have been showing off their skills at an annual horse-riding event in Islamabad, Press TV reports.

Sports and Culture directorate of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) organized the two-day tent pegging contest at Fatima Jinnah Park in Islamabad.

Known as “tent pegging,” this traditional sport of Pakistan gives riders the chance to display their skills while riding on their horses.

Wooden targets are placed on ground at a specific distance and players, wearing traditional dress and turban, have to run their horses and try to hit the target, and pick it with a lance. Target missing is considered as a failure.

Over 600 horsemen from 28 tent pegging clubs from Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistani-administered Kashmir regions participated in the event.

Teams from Afghanistan, Turkey and China also competed in the tournament for the first time.

The latest event comes as Taliban militants have threatened to attack sports events in different regions across the violence wracked country.

Pakistan had not hosted any international match since militants attacked Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Pakistani eastern city of Lahore in 2009. At least six people were killed and several players were hurt in the deadly incident.

International Cricket Council (ICC) and international sporting organizations have also barred Pakistan from holding any international sport event due to growing insecurity.