In Ladakh, the 6th Lieutenant Governor’s Cup Horse Polo Tournament concluded today at the Goshan International Polo Stadium in Drass. Eighteen teams, including three women’s teams, participated in the tournament, highlighting the growing popularity of the sport across the region.
The Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre of the Indian Army emerged as champions, defeating the Animal Husbandry Department team 2-0 in the final to lift the coveted trophy. Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta, who attended the closing ceremony, praised the participation of players and announced enhanced prize money for the tournament. He said, the winning prize money has been increased from 50,000 to 1 lakh rupees for this year’s tournament. From next year, the winning team will receive 2 lakh rupees, while the runners-up will be awarded 1 lakh rupees.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor described the increasing participation of youth, especially women, in the tournament as highly encouraging. He said efforts are being made to promote horse polo as part of Ladakh’s cultural heritage and adventure tourism while providing players with greater national and international exposure. The Lieutenant Governor said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for sports through initiatives like Fit India and Khelo India has brought a significant change in the country’s sporting culture. He added that this vision is guiding efforts to strengthen sports infrastructure in Ladakh and promote indigenous games like horse polo to preserve the region’s rich cultural heritage.
