Gilgit-Baltistan Wins Shandur Polo Cup After 15 Years, Defeats Chitral 6-5 in Thrilling Final
Chitral Times Report
Shandur: Gilgit-Baltistan clinched the Shandur Polo Cup after 15 years by defeating Chitral 6-5 in a thrilling and closely contested final of the Shandur Polo Festival 2026, held at the world’s highest polo ground in Shandur.
More than 25,000 spectators, including local and foreign tourists as well as polo enthusiasts from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, witnessed the final match played on Saturday. From the opening whistle, both teams adopted an aggressive approach, making the contest exciting and competitive throughout.
Chitral took an early lead when Izhar Ali Khan scored the opening goal, while Nasirullah added another shortly afterward to strengthen his team’s advantage. However, Gilgit-Baltistan responded strongly through Zulfiqar and Nazid, who scored crucial goals to level the match.
By the end of the first half, Chitral was leading by 5 goals to 4. In the second half, however, Gilgit-Baltistan staged a remarkable comeback, scoring two more goals while restricting Chitral to just one, securing a 6-5 victory and lifting the coveted Shandur Polo Cup.
For Chitral, Izhar Ali Khan scored three goals, while Shah Ji and Nasirullah contributed one goal each. For Gilgit-Baltistan, Zulfiqar netted three goals, Nazid scored two, and Shah Azam added one goal.
The match also saw injuries to several key players. Chitral’s Nasirullah and Arbab, along with Gilgit-Baltistan’s Aslam and Nasir, were unable to complete the game due to injuries.
Chitral’s team comprised captain Israr Wali Khan, Izhar Ali Khan, Shehzad Ahmed Shah Ji, Nasirullah, Amir Hamza, and Arbab Quli. Gilgit-Baltistan was represented by Shah Azam, Saddam Raji, Zulfiqar, Nazid, Nasir, and Aslam.
At the conclusion of the final, Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Omar Ahmed Bukhari distributed trophies and prizes among the winning and runner-up teams. Spectators highly appreciated the outstanding performance displayed by both sides and applauded the players for an unforgettable final.
