A 71-year-old man Khwaja Ahmed Bali of North Patenga area participated in Jabbarer Boli Khela (a traditional form of wrestling in Bangladesh) with his two sons at Laldighi Maidan in Chittagong on Tuesday.
He said that he has been participating in this sport for the past 50 years.
The two sons of Khawaja Ahmed who participated in Boli Khela are the elder son Salim and the younger son Qayyum Badshah. Although Qayyum Badshah is participating for the first time, Salim has been competing for 10 years.
Khwaja Ahmed said: “I have been playing Boli Khela for 50 years and have received many awards. Competing in this sport is my passion. Every year, I look forward to the start of Boli Khela and take part in it. Two of my three sons have participated in the game this time. One of them is fighting for the first time while the other has been fighting for 10 years.”
Councillor Zahar Lal Hazari, president of the fair organizing committee, said: "Sixty people have registered to participate in this year's Boli Khela. The game started from 4pm. It will be evening before the end of the game. After that, the winner will be announced and awarded.”
He said: “This fair started in 1909. However, in 2020 and 2021, the 111th and 112th seasons of Jabbarer Boli Khela and Baisakhi Mela were cancelled due to the Covid epidemic.”
Jabbarer Boli Khela is a traditional wrestling tournament which is held on 12th of Baishakh every year at Laldighi Maidan in Chittagong.
The event is so popular that a three-day long Boishakhi Mela is held at Laldighi Maidan during this time centring the tournament.
