/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

The Chovgan competition for the President Cup started at the Republican Equestrian Tourism Center of Azerbaijan’s Sheki region on December 16.

Officials of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, leadership of the Shaki City Authority and other guests attended the opening ceremony of the 10th annual tournament.

Addressing the ceremony, Head of the Sheki Culture and Tourism Department Mirvari Zeynalovs noted that the goal of the competition held since 2006 is the preservation of the national equestrian game, as well as the restoration of the ancient traditions of horse breeding, their promotion and development.

”The first competition, held ten years ago, hosted only eight teams, but now their number reached 24,” she said.

The tournament brought together teams from different regions of the country including Baku, Sheki, Yevlakh, Agjabedi, Agdam, Agstafa, Balakan, Barda, Goranboy, Goygol, Khachmaz, Ismayilli, Gazakh, Gabala, Lachin, Oguz, Samukh, Shamikir, TerTer, Tovuz and Zagatala.

Following the speeches, the spectators watch the matches between Sheki and TerTer teams, ending with the victory of Sheki.

The results of other matches are the following: Barda-Samukh 2:1, Gabala-Goygol 1:0, Gazakh-Ismayilli 1:0 and Goranboy-Barda 1:0.

The results of matches held on December 17 are: TerTer-Zagatala 2:1, Goygol-Tovuz 1:0, Gazakh-Shamkir 1:0 and TerTer-Khachmaz 2:1.

The tournament will last till December 21.

Chovqan included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO is a traditional horse-riding game played on a flat, grassy field by two competing teams of players mounted on Karabakh horses. Each team has five riders, with two fullbacks and three forwards.

The game starts at the centre of the field and players use wooden mallets to try to drive a small leather or wooden ball into their opponents’ goal. The game is interspersed with instrumental folk music called ''janghi''. Chovqan players and trainers are all local male farmers and skilled riders.

They traditionally wear large astrakhan hats, long tight-fitting coats with a high waist, and special trousers, socks and shoes. People of all ages come to watch this traditional game and to support their teams.