The national Chovgan team of Azerbaijan has been crowned world champion after a decisive victory in the 2nd World Championship held in Baku.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Azerbaijani team faced Chile in the final match of the tournament. The host nation secured a commanding 3:0 victory, marking a historic achievement for the country in this traditional equestrian sport. In the match for third place, Uruguay defeated Niger with a score of 3:2 to complete the podium.
Chovgan, an ancient Azerbaijani horse-riding game played on horseback, is recognized as a significant part of the nation's cultural heritage. The sport, which involves teams competing to maneuver a ball into the opponent's goal using wooden mallets, was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. The hosting of the 2nd World Championship in Baku underscores Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts to promote and preserve this traditional sport on the global stage.
