Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Muhammad Bagher Beigi was the chief guest on this occasion. Member Provincial Assembly Fazal Elahi Khan, who is also President of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Sports and Culture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, former Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah, former MPA Arif Yousaf, members of the Consulate General Peshawar, Additional Director Youth Aziz Ullah Jan, Director Sports Merged Districts Nawaz Khan, Secretary KP Olympic Association Zulfiqar Butt, Imtiaz Ali, President KP Kabaddi Association Arbab Naseer, international technical official Syed Sultab Bari Shah, players and large number of spectators were also present.
The Consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Peshawar organized both Kabaddi and traditional Zurkhaneh (Pahlevani) and Zourkhaneh. In the event, the demonstration of traditional Zulkhaneh (Pahlevani) was played wherein teams comprising Senior Chamkani XI and Akbar Pura XI took part under the aegis of Pakistan Zurkhaneh Federation and KP Zurkhaneh Association.
Zurkhaneh is a traditional century old game wherein athletics originally used to train warriors in Iran and adjacent lands. Outside Iran, game of Zurkhaneh can be found in Azerbaijan, and they were introduced into Iraq in the mid-19th century, where they seem to have existed until the 1980s.
Traditional Iranian wrestling (koshti) dates back to ancient Persia and was said to have been practiced by Rustam, mythological Iranian hero of the Shahnameh epic. While folk styles were practiced for sport by every ethnic group in various provinces, grappling for combat was considered the particular specialty of the zourkhaneh.
In the Kabaddi event the Peshawar Red team defeated Peshawar Green by 52-48 in the Asian Styles Kabaddi played inside the Lala Rafique Sports Arena along with traditional Zurkhaneh game. The match produced great thrill for the jam-packed indoor hall wherein the players of Peshawar Red and Peshawar Green exhibited superb display of gripping and Kabaddi skills.
Speaking on this occasion, Consul General Mr. Muhammad Baqir Beigi lauded the organizers of the two events in connection with the National Day of Iran. He said with like activities it would bring joys for the youth besides helping the youth to have good physically and mentally. At the end, Muhammad Baqir Beigi gave away trophies and cash prizes of Rs6000 and Rs4000 to the winners and runners of both Kabaddi and Zulkhaneh.