CHITRAL: Chitral Scouts clinched the Pre-Shandur Polo Tournament Championship after defeating Chitral Levies 4-1 in an action-packed final at the historic Shahi Polo Ground here on Sunday.

Shahzad Ahmed alias Shahji of Chitral Scouts scored first goal within two minutes of start of the match while Izhar Ali Khan of Chitral Levies got equalizer within the next two minutes as a frantic competition continued for next ten minutes, each team trying its level best to get a lead.

During the last three minutes of the first half, Israr Wali Khan and Imran of Chitral scored one goal each thereby giving their team a lead of three goals to one while in the second half the only one goal was scored by Shahzad Ahmed Shaji of Chitral Scouts, making the score board reading 4-1.

Chitral Scouts team was consisted ofSubedar Major Israr Wali Khan (captain), Subedar Shahzad Ahmed Shah Ji, Naib Subedar Amir Hamza, Havildar Maqsood, Havildar Imran, and Sepoy Asif Hussain while Chitral Levies team was represented by Izhar Ali Khan (captain), Nasrullah, Fawad Raza, Irfan Ali Khan, Aziz Ahmed and Arbab Quli Khan.

Commandant Chitral Scouts Colonel Arslan Abdul Majeed attended as chief guest alongside Deputy Commissioner Lower Chitral Rao Hashim Azim and jointly presented trophies and cash prizes to the finalists and individual performers.

Man of the Match title went to Israr Wali Khan of Chitral Scouts and Irfan Ali Khan (Chitral Levies) was declared as the man of the tournament, while Baba-e-Polo Amara Khan Lal Award was given away to retired polo star Maqbool Ali Khan.

The highly anticipated final drew a massive crowd of over 20,000 passionate polo enthusiasts.

The intense three-week tournament featured 63 teams from across Chitral region, serving as a thrilling prelude to the upcoming annual Shandur Polo Festival.

All the four teams will be selected on the basis of players’ performance during the tournament to represent Chitral in the Shandur Polo tournament scheduled to start in Shandur, the highest polo ground of the world, from June 11.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2026