Lance-wielding riders take the field
Riders on horseback compete in a tent pegging competition in Islamabad. PHOTO: REUTERS
The University of Agriculture Faisalabad on Sunday opened three-day national tent pegging championship as part of the ongoing spring festival in which horse riders from more than 100 clubs from across the country are taking part.
The championship was inaugurated by the Federal Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah Khan.
The day witnessed eye-catching and attractive tent pegging by riders waving spears to collect the wooden peg amid clouds of dust rising from the ground.
The rider hanging halfway down while galloping with high speed to lift the piece of wood with a spear was the main source of attraction for the spectators.
The event was arranged by the UAF in collaboration with the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan while Nehal Ahmad Khan, Rana Amir Saeed, Khadim Hussain and others organised the event.
Rana Sanaullah Khan said that tent pegging reflected our rural culture.
He said it was the need of the hour to connect the youth with the country’s rich tradition and norms.
He said that nations who valued their culture and remained in touch with their norms made progress in the world.
The federal minister lauded the efforts of the UAF for the agriculture sector and for arranging festivals.
Rana Sanaullah urged agriculture scientists to come up with their valuable research works and to spread the new agricultural trends with the fragrance of rural development for ensuring food security and to alleviate poverty at the grassroots level.
He said that the government was taking all possible steps for the uplift of the agriculture sector.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, said tent pegging was a historical sport which was essential for warriors.
It was spread to various parts of the world by Asian and later European empires.
He added that tent pegging had become a permanent feature of the UAF sports activities.
Prof Khan said that the UAF, which was the first agriculture university in the subcontinent, always took the lead in addressing agricultural challenges.
He said that the two-day D-8 conference on food security would be held on Monday (March 6) in which experts from all the D-8 countries, namely, Egypt, Bangladesh, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Turkey and Pakistan would take part.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2023.