Chitral remains unbeatable at Shandur

SHANDUR: Chitral once again beat Gilgit-Baltistan in a thriller by 10 to nine goals and lifted the annual Shandur polo cup 2022 on July 3.

Chitral wins Shandur polo cup. It was Chitral’s seventh victory at Shandur since 2014 except 2020 and 2021 when the festival could not be held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The three-day polo festival started on July 1. However, the number of tourists and visitors was low compared to the past years. On the concluding day, the two sides played well and in the first half, the Gilgit team had scored seven goals against four of Chitral.

However, in the second half, Chitral got an upper hand and scored six  more goals while the Gilgitis could make only two goals as their horses seemed exhausted. 

Izhar Ali Khan of Chitral was declared Man of the Match for scoring six of the 10 goals

for Chitral. 

Inspector General (IG) Frontier Constabulary (FC) North Maj Gen Adil Yamin was chief guest at the concluding day of the festival. 

Besides exciting polo matches, the mega event also showcased traditional, cultural and adventurous activities, including music and dances at evening at the world’s highest polo ground at Shandur, said the KP Culture and Tourism Authority.

The game has got international fame, which is being played at the highest polo ground of the world at Shandur Pass in Chitral.

Chitral is the most peaceful region and attracts thousands of domestic and international tourists annually, especially during the Shandur and Kalash festivals.

Chitral wins Shandur polo cup.

Tourists stranded

Hundreds of tourists returning from Shandur polo festival were stranded due to floods in three streams in Laspur area, Dawn reported.

Police officials from the remote area said flooding in at least three nullahs left about 1,000 to 1,500 vehicles stranded as local authorities were trying to reopen the roads.

Laspur is situated about 130 kilometres north of Chitral town, at the mouth of the Shandur Top, the highest polo ground in the world.

A police official, who did not want to be named, said Harchin Gol flooded on Saturday night. He said the flood washed away the bridge at Harchin Gol. He said on Sunday, when the authorities nearly cleared the road after deploying heavy machinery, it again flooded and left hundreds of tourists marooned.