DUSHANBE, November 27, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan has finished the 1 ^st Asian Zourkhaneh Sports Festival in Iran second, IRNA reported. 

A three-day festival ended in Tehran on Thursday, November 23.  Zourkhaneh, literally meaning house of strength, is the Iranian national sport also called varzesh-e pahlavani (sport of heroes) or varzesh-e bastani (sport of ancients) played in an Iranian traditional gym.

Zourkhaneh is not only a place where physical exercises are held but also one where chivalry is learned.  The Zourkhaneh sportsman is first expected to be pure, truthful, good-tempered and then physically strong.  Zourkhaneh and varzesh-e pahlavani have their roots in Iranian culture and date back at least 2000 years ago.

Seventeen teams from Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, South Korea, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia and other countries participated in this tournament.  Tajikistan with 65 points ranked third.

Iran stood top at the festival and Iraq finished runner-up with 70 points.