PESHAWAR: A 10-day polo tournament kicked off at Shandur Top in Chitral on Monday to provide an opportunity of entertainment to the local people after the recent devastating floods in the district.

The tournament organised by Chitral Polo Association and sponsored by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Amin ul Haq at the District Council Hall, Chitral.

Officials from district administration, players and journalists and a large number of people attended the opening ceremony, according to a press release issued by the TCKP here.

Around 35 teams are participating in the polo tournament and every day four matches will be played. Closing ceremony will be held on Oct 13.

All the 35 teams participating in the tournament hail from Chitral.

The festival also includes folk music, traditional dances and a camping village.

Free-styled mountain polo is arguably polo in its purest form. This version of the game played in Chitral and Gilgit has attained legendary status and is of great interest to international and domestic adventure tourists alike. There are no umpires and there are no holds barred.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2015

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