Polo not only honours Ladakh’s rich past but also offers invaluable opportunities for leadership development and fosters inclusivity among its youth

Ladakh is globally known as a tourist hotspot. Its landscapes, history, and cultural traditions are common markers of its popularity. But in all these images and talks, have we ever spoken about sports in which this region has excelled? The game of Polo is one such sport that is closely connected closely to the history and culture of this Himalayan land. However, the game is losing relevance, and efforts are now being made to revive it.

Ghulam Sayedin, 50, a resident of Chuchot village located approximately 18 km from the district headquarters of Leh, shared that, “Polo is Ladakh’s traditional game. Today, it is mostly played on the Shagaran ground in our village. Every year in festivals like Matho Nagrang, Shey Drulo, Hemis Tsechu, and Spituk Gastor, Polo is played, and the local crowd takes keen interest. Most of the polo players belong to Chuchot village. Indus Chushot Polo Club was established and registered in 2013, and it sought to revive the centuries-old tradition and custom.” This game became a part of the region’s culture in the 15th Century and was introduced by King Jamyang Namgyal.

Another resident, Mohammad Raza, 30, while talking about the history and evolution of the game over the years, said, “Earlier, Polo was played by the royalty because it was a king’s game and not by the local people. But gradually, this started to change, and the common people started playing it too. In an age that was devoid of smartphones and other activities, polo came to be played widely.

Raza also stated, “It is said that only men used to play this game during those times. Women who were expected to only take care of household chores were not supposed to participate.” Now, things are changing. There is active participation of women in tournaments and efforts are being made to provide them with resources and training. There is a change in the social norms too with the families actively supporting the growth of sports, especially for girls.

The Government is also trying to revive Polo in the region. With the support of the Lieutenant Governor, Brigadier BD Mishra, a 10-member all-women group from Ladakh was sent to receive polo coaching from the President’s Body Guards in Delhi in July last year.

In addition, there have been consistent efforts to provide adequate infrastructural facilities, especially for the Shagaran ground. Ghulam Sayedin informed us that the Shagaran ground has been renovated after approximately 30 years.

The Departments of Tourism, Culture, Animal Husbandry, and Youth Services and Sports, Leh, organised the first CEC (Chief Executive Councillor) Cup Polo Tournament 2022 in collaboration with Indus Chushot Polo Club. This was followed by the second CEC Cup Polo tournament which commenced in late 2023.

The game is deeply ingrained in the culture and the history of the region. It also has immense potential in the areas of leadership development among youth and its resurgence among young girls and women is heartening. But its royal legacy still clings on and makes it out of reach for many. As a source correctly quoted, ‘During my school days, I used to go to the polo ground to look at the horses and the players. It’s mesmerising. But it is a very expensive sport. I couldn’t afford it so never got to play.’

(The writer is a student in Leh, Ladakh. views are personal; Charkha Features)