The circle drawn on the ground represented the territory of the opponent, and the competitors developed a battle plan. Knocking out the khan meant overthrowing the ruler from the throne. The game is also based on the ability to conduct proper internal politics, characterized by caution when already inside the circle, that is, in power.
It is no coincidence that in the epic, the heroes of Manas play Ordo before the Great Campaign to Běijīng (Beijing). They were, in a way, conducting a kind of rehearsal for the upcoming large battle. The modern team consists of eight participants: seven players and one coach. But sports, like life, do not stand still, and therefore various innovations are being introduced.
Today, our guest is the vice-president of the federation and senior methodologist of the Directorate of National Sports, as well as one of the main ideological inspirers of the development of Ordo in our republic, Iskender Kozhokeev.
- Historically, Ordo has been played only by Kyrgyz, except in cases where other ethnicities lived alongside the Kyrgyz. This game is philosophical and very subtle – after all, the circle represents the state, and Ordo is the center. This is, first and foremost, about preserving the state when enemies attack, - says Iskender Kozhokeev.
- I have been playing Ordo since I was six years old. I am from the Talas region, and we had a large building that could accommodate about 500 horses, where we played Ordo. Guests from the Naryn, Issyk-Kul, and Osh regions would come to our competitions, and the competitions themselves lasted 10-15 days. There were always very large and rich prizes. But I should note that in our village, Ordo was played in every yard. Competitions took place from early morning until late at night and were very exciting and interesting.
- Ordo is developing at a professional sports level in Kyrgyzstan...
- That's right. In 2004, we opened the Federation, and I became the vice-president, with Dastan Sarygulov elected as the head. Previously, Ordo was played only once a year, and a Spartakiad was held that included this sport. In 2005, competitions funded by the state budget were held five times, but the largest tournament was held in 2006 and was named "Altyn-Tompoi." At that time, few supported us, as not all officials understood this sport. Now international tournaments are already being held, with guests from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and representatives from various regions attending. This tournament takes place in Osh, and the number of participants grows every year. There are also demonstration performances during city celebrations. Competitions are organized in every region and district dedicated to some famous person or holiday. In total, about thirty tournaments are held each year.
- Yet many games are forgotten over time...
- But how can one forget this game? After all, Ordo is in our blood. Even over the cradle, Kyrgyz hang alchiks. Try giving an alchik to a child who has just learned to walk, and he will "shoot" it. In the past, only khans played, not ordinary people. There is a strategy involved that is not given to everyone.
They always played with bones, and then a bat (abalak) made of various metals appeared. This is how the Naryn people and Chinese Kyrgyz play, but later we removed this innovation from the game, as it is manual labor. Now, as before, we play with cow alchiks. Currently, we are considering making the tompoi from another material, as we want to reach the international level. After all, representatives of the "Green Party" will not allow us to play this way. We have masters in Kyrgyzstan who can recreate the attributes of the game from synthetic materials.
- Was Ordo represented at the World Nomad Games?
- Yes, the question was discussed whether to include this sport in the program. We reminded that Ordo is one of the oldest games, and everything started with it. If this sport is not included in the nomad games, we will forget our customs. And we defended our opinion. Teams from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and our players participated in these competitions. Now we are negotiating with other countries to delegate their teams to the next nomad games, which will take place in our republic in 2016.
- Are there similar games in the world?
- Yes, in Bangladesh, as there are Kyrgyz there, this game is very similar, and there is also a similar game in Kazakhstan. Still, other nations do not play like this, and Ordo is developing in those countries where Kyrgyz live, but soon we will reach the international level. Kazakhs and Tajiks have learned the rules and play with pleasure, so Ordo will spread to other countries in the near future.
- What can this game teach?
- In fact, it is good for health, as it is real gymnastics. The athlete retrieves the tompoi from a distance, squats, throws it with force, while simultaneously building a strategy and thinking about how to preserve his state. Around 1933 in Kazan, Ordo was designated as a sport, and it remains a sport to this day. There are many secrets; I am still studying this game and delving into it. I am already 66 years old, and I still play and learn. Now we are thinking about creating an international federation, as it does not require much funding, and there is no need for expensive transportation of horses; you just put the alchiks and tompoi in your pocket and go. I have found a worthy person who is ready to support this sport, as it is a very cultural game, it is our history. Next year at the Nomad Games, we will create an international federation and gradually reach Asia, Russia, and the world.
Once, Dastan Sarygulov went to Minusinsk, and during excavations, tompoi and alchiks were found, with markings indicating the number of victories, suggesting that earlier they played one-on-one, but now they play in teams. In this case, it is difficult to say who the champion is; it simply turns out that the strongest region wins. This year, I wrote the regulations and rules, which are currently being studied by the commission. We must pass this game from generation to generation, and it is time to reach the international level.
Note:
Each team must have 7 tompois (the knee bone of the hind leg of large cattle), 70 alchiks, and numbered signs on sports clothing. Each player is given five alchiks, and each has the right to three strikes. The khan counts as 2 (two) alchiks, and 68 alchiks are placed in the center. It is worth noting that athletes often hold demonstration performances during various celebrations, so be sure to try playing this amazing and ancient game of Ordo.
