CHITRAL: In a gripping finale to the Pre-Shandur Festival Polo Tournament, Chitral A narrowly defeated Chitral Scouts 5-4 in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
The match began with high intensity as Adnan Ahmed put Chitral A ahead in the fifth minute. Soon after, Asghar Hussain added another, giving Chitral A a strong early lead. But Chitral Scouts responded with determination, scoring twice before halftime to level the match.
The second half saw momentum swing both ways. Chitral A scored early to regain the lead, only for Chitral Scouts to equalize and then go ahead 4-3. Refusing to back down, Chitral A staged a strong comeback with two late goals, clinching a hard-fought 5-4 victory.
Adnan Ahmed was named Man of the Tournament for his stellar performance.
At the award ceremony, Provincial Sports Minister Syed Fakhar Jahan, PTI leader and MNA Umar Amin Gandapur and MPA Chitral Fatehu Mulk Ali Nasir handed out trophies and cash prizes – Rs200,000 to the winners and Rs100,000 to the runners-up.
In his speech, Minister Fakhar Jahan emphasized polo’s cultural significance in Chitral, calling it a tradition rooted deeply in the region’s heritage. He praised both teams for their technical skills and sportsmanship.
He also announced plans to build a modern sports complex in Chitral with facilities for polo, football, and other sports, as well as the establishment of a Riding Club to train young polo players. The tournament will now be included in the province\’s official sports calendar as an annual event.