The Nigeria team has won bronze at the 2024 Chovgan World Championship held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Nura Kangiwa, patron of NSK Polo team and Resort, disclosed this in a statement by Joesef Karim, Media Assistant to Vice President, African Region, International Chovgan Federation on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Kangiwa, who is also the chairman, African Region of the International Chovgan Federation, said that Nigeria drew 1-1 with Uzbekistan to win bronze on points from previous matches.
Mr Kangiwa, the President of Nigeria Polo Federation, said Nigeria team emerged the third best team at the just concluded Chovgan World Championship.
“This is the first time Nigeria participated in any global Chovgan, an ancient equestrian sport similar to Polo.
“Team Nigeria’s build-up to the finals, Nigeria beat Germany 5-0; beat Poland 4-1; and lost against Morocco 4-1,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that World Chovgan Championship was held from June 10 to 16.
NAN reports that Turkey, Malta, Kuwait, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Poland, Germany, Nigeria, including the host Azerbaijan participated in the championship.
The ancient sport of Chovgan is a team sport similar to the more popular Polo. It is played by horse riders with sticks competing to hit a small ball into a goal post.
A match consists of two halves, each last for 15 minutes of effective play time.
The team Nigeria players include Yusuf Bello, Shehu Kangiwa, Mukhtar Adhama and Abdulmalik Badamasi and they were led by Kangiwa.
NAN
