Lease On Life: Dying sport brought to life in Mardan

MARDAN: A mukha match was held in Mardan on Friday to keep the spirit of the centuries-old traditional game alive. The game, which is native to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, bears similarities to archery. However, players shoot long wooden rods tipped with a small metal plate to hit a target instead of shooting arrows. With drumbeats in the background, 10 out of 12 players per team try to aim for the target, which is round and small and stuck in mud, 12 feet high and 35 feet away from the shooter. Each successful hit secures a point for the team. Teams from Saleem Khan and Lachin Khan clubs put up a tough fight on Friday. Saleem Khan Club won the match. Mukha, which is also known as teerandazi, was originally played by Pukhtuns across K-P, especially members of the Yousafzai tribe. It is believed to promote mutual harmony and provides locals with the opportunity to come together and connect.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2016.