Sports and Games
Popular modern sports are cricket and football. Junaid Khan plays international cricket for Pakistan, and is from the village of Mathra, Dagai. Another cricketer, Ibrahim Shah, comes from the village of Kunda. In football, Maneri is the defending football district champion. Swabi is considered as one of the best volleyball nurseries in the country. Many of the national team players are from this district, such as former national team captain Raheem, from the village of Zaida.
Local and ancient games include Maily, Makha, Kabaddi, horse racing, Akor, Gulu Dandai, Bilori, and Pat-Patonay.
Makha, a type of archery, is the traditional game of Swabi. A long bow and arrows made from bamboo sticks are used. Instead of a tip, the arrow has a saucer-shaped distal end called the Tubray. Villages Mangal Chai of and Channi of the Gadoon have a famous Makha rivalry.
Kabbadi is one of the most popular team sports of the area.
Koda, played with small round shaoe stones, was a favorite game of Swabiwal in ancient times. It is still played in Maneri Bala and Payan. The games attract sizable crowds, and traditional Pushto music dulkay is played during tournaments.
Read more about this topic: Swabi District
Famous quotes containing the words sports and, sports and/or games:
“Sports and gallantries, the stage, the arts, the antics of dancers,
The exuberant voices of music,
Have charm for children but lack nobility; it is bitter earnestness
That makes beauty; the mind
Knows, grown adult.”
—Robinson Jeffers (1887–1962)
“In the end, I think you really only get as far as you’re allowed to get.”
—Gayle Gardner, U.S. sports reporter. As quoted in Sports Illustrated, p. 87 (June 17, 1991)
“At the age of twelve I was finding the world too small: it appeared to me like a dull, trim back garden, in which only trivial games could be played.”
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)