The Zurkhaneh team in Uganda is gearing up for the fourth Zurkhaneh Sports World Championships, scheduled for December 2024.
Zurkhaneh sports, which originated in Iran in 2008 and began spreading globally in 2009, was introduced to Uganda by Eddy Gombya.
Gombya was approached by members of the Zurkhaneh community from Turkey and Iran, recommended to him by Michael Matela from Canada, and he traveled to Kish Island near Dubai to learn more about the sport.
Enthusiastic about what he discovered, Gombya returned to Uganda and, alongside Nsubunga Zubaire and Jonathan Mugwissa, officially introduced Zurkhaneh to the country.
Since its registration under the National Council of Sports in 2017, the Ugandan Zurkhaneh team has participated in numerous international events. They organized a seminar in Namboole in 2012 in preparation for the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, returning with a trophy and medals.
The team also competed in the Tafisa World for All Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2016, and the Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2017, where they secured a silver medal. In 2020, they represented Uganda at the World Cup Zurkhaneh in Iran, finishing third out of 25 countries.
Despite their successes, the team faces significant challenges, particularly with equipment and proper training facilities.
“As an indoor sport, proper training facilities are essential. The team is seeking support to ensure their athletes are well-facilitated to represent Uganda on the international stage,” says Gombya.
Senyondo Ivan Wong, who joined the Zurkhaneh Academy in 2016, expressed pride in the achievements garnered through the sport, including representing Uganda internationally.
Coach Bago Deo highlighted the team’s dedication and participation in various tournaments, but noted that “while the sport was initially easier to manage with sponsorship, it has become more challenging due to a lack of sufficient facilitation.”
Currently, the Zurkhaneh team is focused on the upcoming Zurkhaneh Sports and Koshti Pahlavani World Championships.
Eight players are set to participate in Tahira, and they are hopeful for sponsorship from the Ugandan government in December 2024 or early January 2025.
