Latest news with #ShandurPoloFestival
Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Shandur Polo Festival 2025 opens at world highest ground
PESHAWAR: The historic Shandur Polo Festival 2025 commenced with grandeur at the world's highest polo ground in Shandur, district Chitral Upper on Friday. The three-day festival is being jointly organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, Pakistan Army, and Chitral Scouts. The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Speaker Provincial Assembly Suraya Bibi, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information Barrister Dr. Saif, Secretary Tourism Bakhtiyar Khan, Commissioner Malakand Abid Wazir, and Director General Tourism Habibullah Arif. A thrilling match between Chitral's Surlaspur team and Ghizer team from Gilgit-Baltistan marked the first day of the festival, with Surlaspur claiming victory by 6-3. Over the next three days, traditional rival teams from Chitral and Gilgit will engage in a series of exciting and fiercely contested polo matches. A large number of domestic and foreign tourists have reached Shandur to witness the event. Speaking on the occasion, KP Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Syed Fakhar Jehan said that Shandur Polo Festival is not merely a sport event, rather a vibrant cultural celebration that introduces the world to Pakistan's peaceful atmosphere, breathtaking landscapes and rich heritage. He added that Shandur Polo is a treasured cultural sport played at an altitude of 12,000 feet; attract polo enthusiasts and tourists from around the world. The minister warmly welcomed the players and visitors to Shandur, stating that such festivals are a message of peace to the world and a reflection of the love Pakistanis have for their culture. Highlighting the significance of the event, the minister said that the annual polo contest between Chitral and Gilgit promotes unity, harmony, and brotherhood between the two regions. A total of seven teams from each side are participating in the tournament. He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, efforts are being made to equip sports grounds with modern facilities across the province to foster healthy and positive activities among the youth. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
LeMonde
8 hours ago
- Sport
- LeMonde
Polo at high altitude in Pakistan, with no rules or referee
Letter from New Delhi The mountaintops were still capped with snow and sharply contrasted with the bright green pastures where a herd of yaks grazed peacefully beside a lake with crystal-clear waters. The air was crisp in early June at the Shandur Pass, which is situated at an altitude of 12,316 feet. This majestic setting in the heart of the Hindu Kush in northern Pakistan was set to host the annual Shandur Polo Festival from June 20 to 22, known as "the highest polo tournament in the world." The match will be played on a high-altitude field at the border between Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, where even the horses need time to acclimatize to the thin air and arrive several days in advance. The festival lasts three days, featuring celebrations, dances and concerts, with the polo competition pitting the rival teams of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan against each other. The field, laid out in a meadow with white stone stands, was built during British colonial rule in 1936 at the request of Evelyn Hey Cobb, the administrator of the Northern Areas and an avid polo enthusiast.
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Shandur Polo Festival kicks off in highlands
Spectators soak in the thrill and tradition as Gilgit and Chitral face off in a freestyle polo match at the world's highest polo ground during the Shandur Polo Festival. photo: APP The historic and culturally significant Shandur Polo Festival has officially commenced at Shandur, the world's highest polo ground, situated at an altitude of 12,000 feet. The three-day event is being jointly organized by the K-P Tourism Authority, army, and Chitral Scouts. The first day featured a thrilling polo match between Chitral's Sar Laspur and Ghizer team of Gilgit-Baltistan, with Sar Laspur clinching victory by 6-3. Over the course of the festival, traditional rivals from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan will engage in spirited polo matches, drawing large crowds of local and international tourists to the scenic highlands of Shandur.
