LG Cup Horse Polo Tournament Kicks Off in Drass with Record Participation, Global Telecast

Drass, Aug 24: The 5th Edition of the LG Cup Horse Polo Tournament began on Sunday with much enthusiasm at the International Polo Ground, Goshan Drass, marking a historic moment for the traditional sport in Ladakh.The inaugural ceremony was graced by Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffar Akhoon, who formally declared the tournament open in the presence of dignitaries including Joint Director of Youth and Sports, Ladakh, Tahir Hussain Zubdavi, Councilors of Upper and Lower Drass, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Drass, and senior officials.For the first time, the event is being broadcast live globally through the AIR News Kargil YouTube Channel, giving horse polo fans worldwide the opportunity to witness the action.Joint Director of Youth and Sports, Tahir Hussain Zubdavi, said this year’s edition has set a new benchmark in terms of participation. “We are proud to share that this tournament is being live telecast for the first time, enabling polo lovers across the globe to connect with Drass. The participation this year is also the highest ever, with 17 teams, including 5 women’s teams, which is a milestone for horse polo in the region,” he said. He further added that sports infrastructure is steadily growing in Drass, strengthening the region’s position as a sports hub. Highlighting the rise of Drass in the polo arena, CEC Dr. Mohd Jaffar Akhoon said: Drass has made a remarkable impact in horse polo at the national level. This 5th edition of the LG Polo Cup is proof that the tournament is improving year after year. I congratulate the people of Drass for making this event a success.”Dr. Akhoon also acknowledged the contribution of former LG Ladakh Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra in promoting women’s participation in polo. “We are thankful to Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra for sending a women’s team from Kargil to Delhi for training. Their participation today is the result of that vision, and it marks a new chapter in the history of polo in Ladakh,” he said. Looking ahead, Dr. Akhoon said that he has taken up with the Union Sports Minister a proposal to develop Drass as a Winter Sports Destination. “Drass has the potential to be developed as an alternative to Gulmarg for winter sports. The region offers vast avenues for sports development, and we are committed to realizing this vision,” he added. He also announced that the present LG of Ladakh, Kavender Gupta, is scheduled to visit Drass to witness the grand finale of the tournament.The tournament has generated excitement across Ladakh and beyond, not just for its record-breaking participation, but also for its symbolic step towards gender inclusion and global outreach.