The crowd erupts as the camel race begins. Eziz Aysha, a farmer from a nearby village was unlucky last year when his chances were squandered by a stubborn camel and is now set to make amends. "This time, we're ready!" he grins.

Abdulaeziz Abduhewar, a Maire ball player, dazzles with footwork honed at the 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities in Hainan province last year. Maire ball, a form of hockey, is an ancient sport for the Uygur ethnic group originating from Hotan.

Another highlight of the competition is goat-grabbing where riders scramble for a carcass of goat. Among the fiercest teams are a father-son duo from the Aman family. "We came to make friends — and win!" the team says, with dust flying as their horse charges.

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