RIYADH: Ilian Kirov, a former Czech karate expert and coach at the Saudi Karate Federation, has taken up a new hobby, falconry.
Kirov, who first started showing interest in falconry in 2002 when he worked at the SKF, now runs a falcon farm and was displaying some of his birds at the 2024 International Falcon Breeders Auction.
Organized by the Saudi Falcons Club, the auction will continue until Aug. 24 at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh, where leading falcon breeders from 16 countries are participating.
Kirov, the owner of BG Falcons, said he was happy to be a part of the auction.
“I think that the strongest link between the two hobbies is the supernatural speed that a karate player must have, which is one of the most significant qualities of a falcon, in addition to the ferocity that a karate player might resort to sometimes to win, which we find in the falcon when looking for food,” Kirov said.
Kirov praised the efforts and facilities provided by the Saudi Falcon Club.
He said that the sales activity was excellent and that he had sold more than a third of his falcons over the past few days.
“The market is wonderful, and the organization is excellent. I participated with 32 falcons and have sold 12 so far. Falcon enthusiasts are still coming to the auction every day,” he said.
The auction has become an international platform where falconers and falcon breeders meet annually, reflecting the efforts by the Saudi Falcon Club to preserve the historical tradition of falconry.