The Nigerian team has made history by securing a bronze medal at the 2024 Chovken World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan. Chovken, an ancient equestrian sport akin to polo, requires horse riders equipped with sticks to navigate the field and score goals by hitting a small ball into designated posts.
At the 2024 Chovken World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nigeria secured a historic bronze medal. Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa, patron of the NSK Polo team, revealed that Nigeria drew 1-1 with Uzbekistan, clinching the bronze based on prior match points.
This marked Nigeria’s debut in global Chovken, an ancient equestrian sport akin to polo. The team’s journey included victories over Germany (5-0) and Poland (4-1), with a loss to Morocco (4-1). The championship featured teams from Turkey, Malta, Kuwait, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Poland, Germany, and the host country, Azerbaijan.
Nura Kangiwa, patron of the NSK Polo team, proudly announced this achievement. The team’s hard-fought 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan secured them the bronze medal based on their performance in previous matches. Kangiwa emphasized that this marked Nigeria’s debut in a global Chovken competition.
Nigeria’s journey to the podium showcased their talent: triumphing over Germany with a score of 5-0, defeating Poland 4-1, and unfortunately losing to Morocco 4-1. Each match consists of two halves, lasting 15 minutes of intense playtime.
Hosted from June 10 to 16, the World Chovken Championship featured a competitive lineup including Turkey, Malta, Kuwait, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Poland, Germany, and Nigeria, alongside Azerbaijan.
Team Nigeria’s players, Yusuf Bello, Shehu Kangiwa, Mukhtar Adhama, and Abdulmalik Badamasi, were expertly led by Kangiwa himself. This achievement underscores Nigeria’s growing presence in global equestrian sports, and fans eagerly await their next performance on the international stage.
While Nigeria’s performance stood out, other countries also showcased their talent. Some notable performances are:
1. Sweden: Lucas Raymond and Joel Eriksson Ek delivered impressive performances for Sweden.
2. USA: Zach Werenski and Johnny Gaudreau made their mark on the field.
3. Czechia: Dominik Kubalik displayed skill and determination.
4. Germany: Leonhard Pföderl contributed significantly to their team’s efforts.
