A Unique Exciting Game Played In Northern Areas Of Pakistan

  The king of games, polo is an expensive and dangerous game , therefore the number of its players is very less as compared to in other games. In Gilgat -Baltistan, where football and cricket players are in thousands, only 100 players are there for polo. The game played in Gilgat is free style though but during playing the game, to maintain discipline, to solve any dispute, to select man of the match and best horse, rules and regulations have been formulated  For all this a jury and judge perform their duty.
    Polo teams consists of 6 players each, while one is extra. If any player is declared unfit 10 minutes before the  the game begins, jury allows another player to play.  After passing this time or during the play, if any player gets unfit, no other player is allowed to play and the player of another team of the same number has to go out and teams play with 5 players each. Similarly, if other player is injured or unfit then four players will play for each team. This rule will apply if other player is injured or gets unfit.  If during the match any horse gets injured or unfit, replacement or changing of horse is not allowed.. The team scoring 9 goal first will win. If none of the team score any goal, one hour extra is given and the team scoring highest number of goals will win. If the score of both the teams is equal extra time is given and decision of the winner is announced on the basis of "Golden Goal" In the final match the score of nine goal does not apply.but final match spreads over one hour duration.  If any of the player catches the ball during the match and gets entered into the goal, thisis declared a score of goal.
   This year Polo tournament (Spring Blossom Polo Festival) was held during May/June 2011 under the auspices of Sports, culture and tourism department. Twenty two polo teams participated in the tournament.