Bashir Hussain Azad | Chitral Today
Chitral, May 9, 2026: The Shandur Polo Tournament 2026 official toss was finally held on Friday evening at the DC office after earlier delays.
The ceremony was attended by Polo Association President Shehzada Sikandarul Mulk, Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Riaz Ahmad, and captains of all 63 participating teams from both forces and civilian sides.
Shandur Polo Tournament Toss Delayed Amid Format Dispute
According to the original schedule, the toss was set for May 8 and the tournament was to begin on May 10. However, the toss could not take place on the scheduled date due to disagreements raised by civilian players, who had demanded that the tournament follow last year’s format.
The administration rejected the demand and maintained its decision to hold a joint tournament involving both civilian and forces teams.
During today’s meeting, officials and organizers engaged with the players and managed to address their concerns, persuading them to participate despite reservations.
Following this, the toss process was successfully completed.Organizers have now announced that the tournament will commence on May 11 instead of May 10.
Polo enthusiasts in the region have expressed excitement over the event, and the traditional matches are expected to draw significant interest once again this year.