Latest news with #SardarHaseeb
The Star
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Punjabi-style bull racing makes for a spectacular spectacle
A jockey controls a pair of bulls during a traditional bull race competition in Malal, a village of Attock district, in Pakistan. — Photos: ANJUM NAVEED/AP Bulls are yoked together by thick wooden frames in a sun-scorched field of rural Pakistan, while behind them, holding onto nothing more than ropes, is a man on a plank. Hundreds of spectators whoop and cheer as the animals begin to hurtle down a track, whipping up a storm of dust and imminent danger. This is bull racing, Punjabi style. The traditional sport captures the raw energy of village life and is a world away from the floodlit cricket and hockey stadiums found in many Pakistani cities. A jockey (centre) loses the control on a pair of bull. Bull racing has deep roots in the Attock district of eastern Punjab province. It is more than just a sport there, it is a part of the region's living heritage. In the village of Malal, one of bull racing's most vibrant hubs, hundreds of people gather every year to witness the spectacle. Jockeys crouch behind the animals on a plank, gripping onto some reins and relying on experience and instinct to triumph. But there's always a chance for chaos as it's common for the bulls to throw the jockey off his platform and drag him through the dirt. Members of a team shout next to a pair of bull start running. 'This isn't just entertainment, it's tradition,' said Sardar Haseeb, whose family has been holding races for generations. 'We take pride in our animals. Farmers and landowners raise their bulls year round just for this moment. People are willing to pay high prices for a winning bull. It becomes a symbol of pride.' The bull race creates a festive atmosphere, complete with dancing and banknotes thrown into the air – a celebratory practice normally seen at weddings. Hawkers hold colourful ribbons and other items used to decorate bulls as they wait for customers at the venue of a traditional bull race competition. The scent of freshly fried sweets rises from hot pans to lure the crowds. Stallholders prepare roasted chickpeas and other delicacies. The hustle and bustle becomes a source of income for enterprising locals, who benefit from the cultural event. More than 100 bulls competed in the event that Haseeb hosted, with people travelling from across Pakistan to be part of the race. Among the competitors was farmer Muhammad Ramzan. 'My bull came in fifth place and I'm thrilled,' he said. 'It left 95 others behind.' – AP
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AP PHOTOS: In Pakistan, people don't run with bulls. They race them. In spectacular style
MALAL, Pakistan (AP) — Bulls are yoked together by thick wooden frames in a sun-scorched field of rural Pakistan , while behind them, holding onto nothing more than ropes and his honor, is a man on a plank. Hundreds of spectators whoop and cheer as the animals begin to hurtle down a track, whipping up a storm of dust and imminent danger. This is bull racing, Punjabi style. The traditional sport captures the raw energy of village life and is a world away from the floodlit cricket and hockey stadiums found in many Pakistani cities. Bull racing has deep roots in the Attock district of eastern Punjab province. It is more than just a sport there, it is a part of the region's living heritage. In the village of Malal, one of bull racing's most vibrant hubs, hundreds of people gather every year to witness the spectacle. Jockeys crouch behind the animals on a plank, gripping onto some reins and relying on experience and instinct to triumph. But there's always a chance for chaos as it's common for the bulls to throw the jockey off his platform and drag him through the dirt. 'This isn't just entertainment, it's tradition,' said Sardar Haseeb, whose family has been holding races for generations. 'We take pride in our animals. Farmers and landowners raise their bulls year round just for this moment. People are willing to pay high prices for a winning bull. It becomes a symbol of pride.' The bull race creates a festive atmosphere, complete with dancing and banknotes thrown into the air — a celebratory practice normally seen at weddings. The scent of freshly fried sweets rises from hot pans to lure the crowds. Stallholders prepare roasted chickpeas and other delicacies. The hustle and bustle becomes a source of income for enterprising locals, who benefit from the cultural event. More than 100 bulls competed in the event that Haseeb hosted, with people traveling from across Pakistan to be part of the race. Among the competitors was farmer Muhammad Ramzan. 'My bull came in fifth place and I'm thrilled,' he said. 'It left 95 others behind.' ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Al Jazeera
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Bull racing draws crowds in rural areas of cricket-loving Pakistan
Bulls are yoked together by thick wooden frames in a sun-scorched field in rural Pakistan. Behind them, clutching nothing more than ropes – and his pride – stands a man perched on a plank. Hundreds of spectators whoop and cheer as the animals thunder down a track, kicking up clouds of dust and a tangible sense of danger. This is bull racing, Punjabi style. The traditional sport encapsulates the raw vibrancy of village life and stands in stark contrast to the floodlit cricket and hockey stadiums of Pakistan's cities. In the Attock district of the eastern province of Punjab, bull racing runs deep. Here, it is more than a pastime. It forms part of the region's living heritage. In the village of Malal, a key hub for the sport, crowds gather annually to witness the spectacle. Jockeys crouch low behind the bulls on their wooden planks, gripping the reins and relying upon experience and instinct to claim victory. Yet chaos is never far away. It is not uncommon for bulls to unseat the jockeys, sending them tumbling through the dust. 'This isn't just entertainment. It's tradition,' said Sardar Haseeb, whose family has organised races for generations. 'We take pride in our animals. Farmers and landowners raise their bulls year-round just for this moment. People are willing to pay high prices for a winning bull. It becomes a symbol of pride.' The event has a festive air with dancing and showers of banknotes tossed into the sky – a celebratory gesture more usually associated with weddings. The aroma of freshly fried sweets wafts from sizzling pans, enticing the crowds. Stallholders serve roasted chickpeas and other delicacies. The bustling scene generates income for local vendors, who benefit from the celebration of culture. At the most recent event put on by Haseeb, more than 100 bulls competed, and participants came from across Pakistan to take part. Among the competitors was farmer Muhammad Ramzan. 'My bull came in fifth place, and I'm thrilled,' he said. 'It left 95 others behind.'
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan's bull racing takes on ‘Punjabi-style'
Bulls are yoked together by thick wooden frames in a sun-scorched field of rural Pakistan, while behind them, holding onto nothing more than ropes and his honor, is a man on a plank. Hundreds of spectators whoop and cheer as the animals begin to hurtle down a track, whipping up a storm of dust and imminent danger. This is bull racing, Punjabi style. The traditional sport captures the raw energy of village life and is a world away from the floodlit cricket and hockey stadiums found in many Pakistani cities. Bull racing has deep roots in the Attock district of eastern Punjab province. It is more than just a sport there, it is a part of the region's living heritage. In the village of Malal, one of bull racing's most vibrant hubs, hundreds of people gather every year to witness the spectacle. Jockeys crouch behind the animals on a plank, gripping onto some reins and relying on experience and instinct to triumph. But there's always a chance for chaos as it's common for the bulls to throw the jockey off his platform and drag him through the dirt. 'This isn't just entertainment, it's tradition,' said Sardar Haseeb, whose family has been holding races for generations. 'We take pride in our animals. Farmers and landowners raise their bulls year round just for this moment. People are willing to pay high prices for a winning bull. It becomes a symbol of pride.' The bull race creates a festive atmosphere, complete with dancing and banknotes thrown into the air — a celebratory practice normally seen at weddings. The scent of freshly fried sweets rises from hot pans to lure the crowds. Stallholders prepare roasted chickpeas and other delicacies. The hustle and bustle becomes a source of income for enterprising locals, who benefit from the cultural event. More than 100 bulls competed in the event that Haseeb hosted, with people traveling from across Pakistan to be part of the race. Among the competitors was farmer Muhammad Ramzan. 'My bull came in fifth place and I'm thrilled,' he said. 'It left 95 others behind.'
The National
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Bull racing, Pakistan style
In a sun-scorched field of rural Punjab, hundreds of spectators cheer as racing bulls whip up a storm of dust Bulls are fastened together by thick wooden frames in a sun-scorched field of rural Pakistan, while behind them, holding on to nothing more than ropes and his honour, is a man on a plank. Hundreds of spectators cheer as the animals begin to hurtle down a track, whipping up a storm of dust and imminent danger. This is bull racing, Punjabi style. The sport captures the raw energy of village life and is a world away from the cricket and hockey stadiums found in cities. Bull racing has deep roots in Attock, eastern Punjab province, and is part of the region's living heritage. 'This isn't just entertainment, it's tradition,' Sardar Haseeb, whose family has been holding races for generations, told AP. 'We take pride in our animals. Farmers and landowners raise their bulls year round just for this moment. People are willing to pay high prices for a winning bull. It becomes a symbol of pride.'
