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"The International Ulamaliztli Tournament, known as hip ulama, took place in Mexico City as more than 29 men's and women's teams from different parts of the country gathered for Xipe Totec 2026. Footage filmed on Saturday shows the competition in the ancient Mesoamerican sport, in which players use their hips to strike a natural-rubber ball and keep it in motion. "The women's movement within the ulama has long remained largely hidden. Very little is said about the role women play, even though we are just as capable of stepping forward and facing these challenges," said player Eugenia Contreras. For some players, ulama became a marker of identity that they did not find in more widely played sports. "I think it is very beautiful that it still exists (...) We know that the body has memory, and our body has not forgotten the movements our ancestors made. So it fills me with great joy, great pride to be able to practice it," said a participant. Ana Francis Mor, Mexico Cityэs director of culture, attended the event and highlighted the role of women in the ancient Mesoamerican sport, which has endured for millennia. "When we say the ball returns home, that is exactly what we mean - it has been played here since ancient times," she said. Archaeologists have uncovered ulama courts in the state of Chiapas dating back around 3,500 years, evidence of the ancient roots of a tradition that blends ritual and sport. Today, Sinaloa is one of the states where the ballgame remains most widely practised, in three forms: forearm, hip and mallet."
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