Animal Husbandry Dept beat Ladakh Scouts 3-1 to lift 5th CEC Cup Polo title at Chuchot

• SECMOL Club win women’s exhibition match 5-0

LEH: The Animal Husbandry Department clinched the 5th CEC Cup Polo Tournament at the historic Shagaran Polo Ground, Chuchot, defeating Ladakh Scouts 3-1 in the men’s final as the four-day tournament concluded on Sunday.

Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Culture, UT Ladakh, Sanjit Rodrigues, attended the closing ceremony as Chief Guest and distributed prizes and trophies to the winning and runner-up teams. The concluding day also featured cultural performances and a women’s exhibition match.

In the women’s exhibition match, SECMOL Club defeated the Animal Husbandry Department 5-0. The men’s final followed, with the Animal Husbandry Department securing the tournament title with a 3-1 victory over Ladakh Scouts. Rodrigues marked the commencement of the match proceedings by throwing the opening ball onto the ground.

The closing programme opened with cultural performances featuring Shandol, ghazal and traditional dances, before the women’s exhibition match and men’s final.

Speaking on the occasion, Tundup Dorjey, President, Indus Chuchot Polo Club, welcomed the guests, players and spectators and recalled the history of polo in Chuchot. He acknowledged the efforts of senior members, the Animal Husbandry Department and the club in reviving and sustaining the sport at the historic Shagaran ground.

Dorjey said the club had progressively developed the ground since 2012, with polo providing a platform to showcase Chuchot’s sporting and cultural identity and draw visitors to the area.

He also recalled the development of the Ladakh Polo Festival and the support extended by the Hill Council and the government, including financial assistance for infrastructure improvements at Shagaran, such as seating arrangements and stalls.

Dorjey emphasised the need for further support to develop horse-riding and polo-related tourism activities, particularly during the May-October tourist season, and said the club sought to develop the venue as a tourism attraction.

Administrative Secretary, Higher Education, UT Ladakh, Bhanu Prabha, attended the event as Guest of Honour. Mandeep Mittal, IFS, local Nambardars, officials, tourists, polo enthusiasts and community members were also present.

Mohd Afzal officiated as referee during the matches. The four-day tournament brought together local teams and players and provided a platform for competitive polo while linking Ladakh’s traditional sporting heritage with tourism and community participation.