Chovken is a fast-paced, strategic equestrian team sport with ancient roots — and a legacy that predates and inspired modern Polo. While Polo became globally known through colonial expansion, Chovken evolved organically in the Caucasus and Central Asia, preserving its authenticity, ceremonial richness, and deeper cultural resonance.

Played by two teams of four riders, the objective is to drive a leather-inflated ball into the opposing goal using curved wooden mallets. A standard match consists of two 15-minute halves, combining speed, precision, and instinctive play. The sport is known for its fluid rhythm, tactical depth, and powerful visual appeal.

Chovken is not only a sport — it's a living tradition that unites history, athleticism, and identity.

Chovken dates back more than 2,500 years, originating in ancient Persia and Azerbaijan. It is considered one of the oldest equestrian team sports in the world. Archaeological evidence confirms that early forms of the game were practiced on the lands of modern-day Azerbaijan as early as the Achaemenid Empire.

Throughout history, Azerbaijan emerged as one of the cultural strongholds of Chovken. During the Safavid era (16th–18th centuries), the Azerbaijani form of the game developed its own distinctive traits — from tactical rules to ceremonial rituals — diverging from the Persian variant. Court manuscripts and miniature paintings from the time vividly depict royal tournaments and the game’s status in elite society.

In 2013, in recognition of its cultural significance, UNESCO inscribed Chovken/Chovgan as practiced in Azerbaijan on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Since then, both local and international efforts have worked to preserve and promote the sport’s heritage.

Chovken is played under the following essential rules:

• Two teams of four mounted players
• Players strike a leather-inflated ball using curved wooden mallets
• Match duration: 2 x 15-minute halves
• Sudden-death overtime in case of a draw
• Physical contact is allowed but regulated
• Players control the horse with one hand and wield the mallet with the other
• The team with the most goals wins

What distinguishes Chovken from Polo is its allowance for closer physical contact, open-field freedom, and more cultural expression in play, offering a sport that is both athletic and ceremonial.

Chovken is not merely a competition — it is a cultural phenomenon, passed through generations, deeply rooted in the traditions of the Caucasus, Iran, and Central Asia. In these societies, the game was associated with valor, elegance, nobility, and leadership. In Azerbaijan, it became a central feature of festivals, folk music traditions, and national identity.

While modern Polo was formalized in British India in the 19th century — inspired by local equestrian sports — Chovken retained its indigenous evolution. Its survival and revival speak to a broader movement to reclaim and celebrate cultural authenticity in global sport.