Azerbaijani National Chovgan Team to Participate in First European Championship

The Azerbaijani national team will compete in the first European Championship, which will be held in Szonowice, Poland, from June 3 to 7.

"Report" informs that the national teams of six countries representing the European continent – Azerbaijan, Great Britain, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Turkey – will participate in the competition organized by the International Chovgan Federation (ICF).

Within the framework of the championship, the third General Assembly of the International Chovgan Federation will also be held on June 4. During the Assembly, extensive discussions will be held on the admission of new members, the dates and venues of the next continental competitions, as well as the future activities of the federation.

It should be noted that the International Chovgan Federation has formed a long-term competition calendar that envisages the organization of continental championships in odd years and world championships in even years. It is planned to hold Asian, South American, African and European championships in 2025.

It should be reminded that the International Chovgan Federation was founded in Baku in February 2024 with the participation of 19 countries and its charter was approved. In June of the same year, during the second extraordinary Assembly, the number of member countries of the federation reached 54. In 2024, the first World Chovgan Championship was organized in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, with the participation of 10 countries, and the Azerbaijani team took first place and won the title of the first world champion. According to the decision adopted at the same Assembly, the next world championship will be held again in Baku in 2026.

Chovgan is not only a sport for Azerbaijan, but also a carrier of the ancient cultural heritage of the people. In this regard, its inclusion in the UNESCO list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding" in 2013 confirms once again how important chovgan is for the Azerbaijani people. Currently, purposeful activities are being carried out in our country to revive this ancient equestrian game and promote it internationally.