KARGIL: Shina Drass lifted the first Kargil Polo Tournament defeating Himalayan Drass- A by a solitary goal in the final played here on Saturday.
The title winner was awarded with Rs 15,000 cash prize while runners-up team got Rs 7,000. In all, six teams from all over Kargil District participated in the tournament.
The event was organised by District Police Kargil for reviving the age old tradition of Horse Polo in Kargil.
Chairman J and K Legislative Council, Haji Anayat Ali was Chief Guest, who gave away the title trophy. Speaking to the finalist teams, Haji Anayat appreciated the role of District Police Kargil for initiating the revival of traditional sport of Horse Polo.
He also appreciated the people Drass, Bodh Karbo and Wakha for preserving this game of heritage.
In his address, SP Kargil, Rahul Malik said that besides policing and prevention and detention of crime in the district, the J and K Police was committed to encourage and promote traditional sports thereby provide the youth a platform to excel. The final witnessed besides others by world renowned historian and Tibetologist, Prof Dieter Shue, Commander 121 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier T.K Chopra, CO BSF S.M Kispota, Additional SP and Polo Promoter of Kargil, Mohammad Amin Polo.
Pertinent to mention here that this year for the first time in the history of polo in J and K 10 Girls have been imparted polo training at Drass Kargil and for the first time a women team from Ladakh shall participate in national level events.