ANTANANARIVO, April 14 -- Barefoot in the dust, their hands wrapped in thin fabric, a handful of athletes practised moraingy, a traditional Madagascan martial art, ahead of a fight in Antananarivo stadium.

The competition on Sunday in the capital of the Indian Ocean island is aimed at promoting the age-old combat sport.

Moraingy dates back to the 17th century.

It originated on the west coast of Madagascar, where it was practised as training for war and as an initiation rite marking the passage to adulthood.

It spread as people migrated and is mainly practised today in the north and northwest of the country.

"Watch your guard!," shouted coach Thierry Saidani, whose training centre on the northern tip of Madagascar has created several ...