National equestrian game to be held in Sheki
By Aygul Salmanova
Azerbaijani national equestrian game chovgan, which has about a thousand-year history still did not lose its popularity in the country.
The National Equestrian Games for the Presidential Cup have already become a tradition in the Republican Equestrian Tourism Center in the Dashuz village of Shaki, established under the presidential decree.
Republican Equestrian Tourism Center will host the next Chovgan game national competitions for the Presidential Cup, in between December 17 and 20.
Along with the teams representing different regions of the republic, the teams from Baku such as Elit, Köhlen, Polad and Serhedchi will also participate in the competitions. The winners of the game will be presented with diplomas and money awards from the ministry.
Chovgan, the original form of the polo sporting game that dates back to the middle of the first millennium AD, initially was a team game. The game was very popular over the centuries, both in Azerbaijan and in Central Asia, Iran, Turkey, Iraq and neighboring countries.
In Azerbaijan, chovgan was considered an aristocratic game since ancient times and was conducted on Karabakh horses.
The fragments of the game were periodically depicted in ancient Azerbaijani miniatures, as well as detailed descriptions and rules of the game were found in ancient manuscripts.
In the history of Azerbaijan, many facts and evidence that confirm the existence of this game in ancient times can be found.
As a result of archaeological excavations conducted in the Oren-Kala area, a vessel with images of fragments of the game Chovgan was found, which indirectly confirms the existence of this game in the 11th century in the city of Beylagan (southeastern Azerbaijan).
There are two teams, consisting of five to six players each plus one odd player. Regardless of the composition of the team there is no goalkeeper. The ball can be stopped while in movement by any part of the player's body but strikes must be done only with a special club.
Duration of the game is 30 minutes (two 15-minute half-times). An amateur game lasts 20 minutes (10+10). The break-time is 10 minutes, after which the teams change the ends.
In case of a draw, extra-time follows (no more than 8 minutes) and penalty kicks may follow. If the score is still a draw, the winner is determined by drawing lots.
It should be noted that at the 8th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Baku in December 2013, the Chovgan game of Azerbaijan was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
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