2007年VOA标准英语-Bestselling Book Sparks US Kite Fighting Craze

By George Dwyer
New York City, NY
25 January 2007
 
watch Kite Fighting report

Throughout much of Asia, kite fighting has been a popular activity for generations. Now a bestselling novel by an Afghan-American author has stirred new interest in the sport in the United States. And as VOA's Jim Bertel reports, kite fighting is more than just a sporting diversion, it is an important cultural touchstone for many South Asian immigrants in the U.S.

Some kites used in kite fighting

The skies over a park in New York City have been filled with kites in recent months.

On the ground, Afghan, Indian, Pakistani, and other South Asian devotees of "kite fighting" battle for supremacy¹ of the skies. Bangladeshi Qaiser Khan says, "It is very special. I got this from my father, from my childhood. This is the only thing I (have) been doing since a very young age."

Sheryar Choudhry, Director of the World Control Board of Kite Flying says kite fighting is a highly competitive sport, but it is also considered an art form across South Asia -- a touchstone of shared experience.

"It's not only a sport. It's also a culture,” says Choudrhry. “It's a very big part of Pakistan, Indian culture. And you know it keeps you basically in touch that you left home and you are here now but you know all the guys and families come out to the park and they fly kites. It is basically a way of staying in touch with your heritage."

Introduced in the U.S. just over a decade ago, kite fighting has been on the ascent² ever since. But with the 2004 publication of the novel "The Kite Runner" by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini, the sport has really taken off says kite fighter Rizwan Basit.

"No matter what, even if it's windy, rainy, sunny, they are here Saturdays and Sundays flying kites. Firstly, we started twelve years ago. I was like one of the three people that were here (and) started this sport. Now we have a bunch of people."

It takes two men to operate the kite. Mastery of the sky goes to the team whose kite line cuts the cord of its challenger, sending the defeated kite into a free-fall.

"It's like winning a match. When two kites have a match together one of them is going to (be) cut. Whoever cuts the kite, he wins the match," explains Arshad Butt³.

These "experienced hands" know how to prepare their kite strings⁴ with powdered glass and glue to snap their opponent's line. And they understand that winning takes patience, strategy, and some luck.

More than two years after its publication, "The Kite Runner" is still a hot seller. Hundreds turned out at a recent Washington DC book festival to have him sign copies of his books. In New York the sport of kite fighting is flying higher than ever.

1 supremacy   

n.至上；至高权力

参考例句：

• No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员，无人能胜过她。
• Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说，她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。

2 ascent   

n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高

参考例句：

• His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
• Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮，电梯开始缓慢上升。

3 butt   

n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶

参考例句：

• The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
• He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。

4 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。