Gymkhana
A gymkhana is a team competition game in which the participants must overcome a series of tests that can be of ingenuity, skill, physical or sport along a route. The word is included in the Dictionary of the Spanish language (DLE) of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE).
Etymology
The abbreviation or word gymkhana comes through English, from the Hindi and Persian term khana (khāneh in Persian), meaning "gathering place" 34;, and from gend, meaning 'ball': gẽdkhāna, ball game. skill contests, and the contest itself.
In the Indian subcontinent, and in other Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Burma and in Singapore, as well as in East Africa, gymkhana refers to a sports and social club.
This game is played mainly in India.
History
In the 19th century, cavalry were organized by the British Army in India to keep their cavalry in shape and improve their skill as riders. A typical gymkhana consisted of carrying out a horse race in a winding circuit, during which the participants had to overcome a series of obstacles consisting of rows of poles located at different heights, being penalized if they omitted to jump over any obstacle or knock over a pole.
Although originally the gymkhanas were competed on horseback, today they are held on foot or in all types of vehicles, including bicycles, cars or skates, being very popular as outdoor activities. In English-speaking countries it continues to be a riding contest, generally for children, in which the agility of the horses and the talent of the riders are demonstrated in different tests.