Traditional sport driven by passion

From watering the sand pit to playing referee, 55-year-old Mohammad Iqbal does what it takes to keep the sport of kushti (traditional wrestling) alive and kicking in Dubai. The kushti competition happens every Friday in Deira as it has done for 40 years. Iqbal has gone from being a player to managing the contest, which draws workers from all over the UAE. There is no money involved; it’s all about passion. Staff photographer Ahmed Ramzan captures the action

The traditional form of wrestling is so popular that wrestlers even come from Pakistan on a visit visa to witness kushti and participate in it.

Mohammad Iqbal waters the sand pit before a fight. Workers turned wrestlers train throughout the week after their duty hours for this one day of excitement.