The Nigerian team won bronze at the 2024 Chovken World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Nura Sani Kangiwa, patron of the NSK Polo team and resort, disclosed this in a statement by Joesef Karim, media assistant to vice president, African Region, International Chovken Federation, on Monday in Abuja.

Kangiwa, also the chairman of the African Region of the International Chovken Federation, said Nigeria drew 1-1 with Uzbekistan to win bronze on points from previous matches.

Mr Kangiwa, the president of the Nigeria Polo Federation, said the Nigerian team emerged as the third-best team at the just concluded Chovken World Championship.

“This is the first time Nigeria has participated in any global Chovken, an ancient equestrian sport similar to Polo.

” Team Nigeria’s build-up to the finals, Nigeria beat Germany 5-0, beat Poland 4-1, and lost against Morocco 4-1,” he said.

The World Chovken Championship was held from June 10 to 16.

Turkey, Malta, Kuwait, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Poland, Germany, and Nigeria, including the host country of Azerbaijan, participated in the championship.

The ancient sport of Chovken is a team sport similar to the more popular Polo. It is played by horse riders with sticks competing to hit a small ball into a goal post.

A match consists of two halves, each lasting 15 minutes of effective playtime.

The Nigerian team, led by Kangiwa, includes Yusuf Bello, Shehu Kangiwa, Mukhtar Adhama, and Abdulmalik Badamasi.

(NAN)