By Kamran Khamiso Khowaja
SUJAWAL: Traditional Sindhi wrestling, known as Malakhro, took centre stage at the annual Urs of Hazrat Ghulam Shah, drawing a large number of villagers and fans from across the region who gathered to witness the centuries-old sport in action.
People from different parts of Sujawal and neighbouring areas assembled outside the shrine to watch intense Malakhro bouts, as local wrestlers competed to showcase their strength and skill before an ever-growing crowd.
According to Abdul Ghafoor Jat, a local landlord and organiser of the Malakhro event, the sport traces its roots back nearly 5,000 years and continues to retain its popularity despite the dominance of modern technology and digital entertainment.
“Even today, Malakhro attracts people of all ages, especially elderly and middle-aged men, who come from far-flung areas to watch the wrestlers compete,” he said, adding that Malakhro events are organised annually at more than 85 locations across Sindh. He noted that wrestlers from various districts participated in the competition held during the Urs.
Local residents said spectators voluntarily offered cash prizes and gifts to the winning wrestlers, keeping alive a long-standing cultural tradition. They explained that Malakhro follows a unique style in which wrestlers grip each other by the waist, and the one who successfully overpowers his opponent is declared the winner.
Several wrestlers, including Jiyandal Laghari, Ayaz Shah, Moheb Sheedi, and Rano Khaskeli, were described as prominent figures of the sport in the area.
Umer Jat, a 70-year-old Malakhro enthusiast, recalled watching his first wrestling contest at the age of 15 and said he had rarely missed an event since then. He suggested that UNESCO should patronise the sport to help it gain international recognition and preserve it as part of Sindh’s cultural heritage.
