FIRST WINNER

The inaugural official World Chovgan Championship was held in the capital city of Baku, Azerbaijan on June 10-17, 2024. Chovgan is an oriental equestrian team game. Azerbaijan is regarded as the country of origin of chovgan. Furthermore, the International Chovgan Federation (ICF) was established in Baku last year.

History and Inaugural Champion

A number of sources indicate that chovgan is an ancient Azerbaijani game. This is corroborated by the presence of numerous references to themes related to this game in ancient miniatures. Furthermore, written sources provide insight into the rules of the game. The epic Kitabi Dede Gorgud indicates that the history of chovgan can be traced back to the 6th century. Chovgan is one of the variants of the well-known polo game. The game is played by two teams of six players each, with the objective of scoring a ball into the opposing team's goal. The inclusion of chovgan in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013 can be characterised as a confirmation of international acceptance of this national sport.

The World Chovgan Championship, which involved 10 teams, was held at the Bina Equestrian Centre. The third-place finisher was Nigeria, which defeated Uzbekistan with a score of 3:1. In the final, the teams of Azerbaijan and Morocco faced off. Azerbaijan emerged triumphant, having vanquished its rival with a score of 2:0, thereby securing the title of world champion.

Chovgan in Africa, Europe and South America

Bahruz Nabiyev, the President of the International Chovgan Federation, noted that holding the World Championship in this equestrian sport is beneficial for its further development. Furthermore, he indicated that the IHF has broadened the scope of its activities. On June 10-11, an extraordinary General Assembly of the International Chovgan Federation was convened, during which the international rules of the game were approved. Furthermore, it was established that continental tournaments will be held in 2025. In the following year, analogous competitions will be held in Africa, Europe, and South America. In 2026, a second World Championship will be held, while in 2025, a European Championship will be hosted in Poland. The next General Assembly of the International Cricket Council will be held in Poland. A number of significant resolutions will also be reached at this juncture. The FIDF currently has 53 members.

Bahruz Nabiyev expressed confidence that this sport will enjoy great popularity in the future, regardless of geographical location. "As the International Federation of Chovgan, our objective is to disseminate this ancient game throughout the globe. The number of participants continues to grow year on year. Competitions are held in each country to promote chovgan. The International Federation was established a mere one year ago. A great deal of work has been accomplished in a relatively short period of time. However, the most significant initiatives remain to be undertaken. It is of significant importance to hold internal championships in each of the member countries. Subsequently, the competition will intensify. Furthermore, intercontinental competitions will be organised, in line with the leading sports of the world. In the next five to ten years, Chovgan is likely to become a more widely recognised sport.

From 19 to 53 countries

The establishment of the International Chovgan Federation in Azerbaijan has been a significant development. This represents a novel development within our country. Following the inaugural General Assembly of the International Federation of Chovgan, 19 countries expressed support for the establishment of such a federation. A specific project pertaining to this game has been initiated in Azerbaijan. The establishment of the Professional Chovgan League will facilitate the development of this sport at the professional level. The objective is to cultivate and transmit our historical and cultural legacy to future generations. The championship held in Baku was imbued with a spirit of camaraderie and friendship. The championship will undoubtedly serve as a significant contribution to the global dissemination of chovgan.