Chitral smashes Gilgit\’s dreams at Shandur again

Chitral Today Report

‎SHANDUR (UPPER CHITRAL): In a thrilling display of traditional mountain polo, Chitral once again asserted its dominance by defeating Gilgit-Baltistan after a fiercely contested final match of the Shandur Polo Festival 2025 by nine to seven goals. 

‎At the end of the second half, both the teams scored seven goals each and hence a 10-minute extra time was given followed by another seven extra minutes during which Chitral A scored two goals with Gilgit A none. Hence Chitral won the tournament by 9:7 goals.

‎In the extra time, four players from each side were sent to the ground as two horses of Gilgit team got injured in the match.

This was perhaps first time that such a closely contested final has been played at Shandur. Despite their horses sustaining injuries, the Gilgit A team exhibited high degree of professionalism and gave Chitral A a very tough time throughout.

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As many as six of the nine goals from Chitral side were scored by Izhar Ali Khan.

Before the Shandur polo final between Chitral A and Gilgit A, the first two days of the annual festival were dominated by teams from Gilgit-Baltistan who won almost all matches against Chitral.

The three-day mega event started at the world\’s highest polo ground located in Upper Chitral on June 20, 2025. The mega festival was organized Khyber Pakthunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA).

‎Chitral\’s dominance 

Chitral has won the tournament eight times since 2014, cementing its reputation as a regional powerhouse. Organizers cancelled the event in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and again in 2024, when the caretaker government in KP cited bad weather.

However, ChitralToday sources claimed the government actually feared political protests during the festival by PTI supporters over the imprisonment of party leader Imran Khan.

In the year 2023, Chitral won the trophy for the 8th time since 2014 while in 2020 and 2021 the event could not be held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since 1936, the Shandur Polo Festival has brought together the people of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan for a celebration of sport, culture and friendship.

Players compete in freestyle polo, a thrilling and rugged version of the game played at 12,000 feet above sea level, earning Shandur the title of the “Roof of the World.”

Beyond polo, the festival offers folk music, dancing, traditional food, and local crafts, turning the remote plateau into a vibrant cultural hub each summer.