Ladakh Revives Ancient Sport as Women Take Center Stage

In the high-altitude valleys of Ladakh, a centuries-old tradition is finding new life, powered by an unexpected force—women. Historically dominated by men, polo is now being rewritten by women in Ladakh, with the newly inaugurated Horse Polo Stadium in Goshan, Drass, marking another step in reviving the sport.

The UT Administration's initiative to send girls from Leh and Kargil to Delhi for polo training with the President's Body Guard has fueled this momentum. Last year, 12 girls from Leh participated, and this year, 12 girls from Kargil are undergoing training—a testament to the region's growing commitment to women's polo.

Deachen Angmo, Captain of SECMOL Polo Team, shares her journey, "I've been playing polo for the past two years, starting with the Chushot team. In 2013, I learned that Secmol was offering horse riding lessons, which sparked my interest. Many people believe women are weak, but I wanted to prove them wrong, and this experience has greatly boosted my confidence."

Mohd Amin Polo, President of Polo Promotion Committee Drass, says, "To encourage women's participation in polo, we took a step by introducing women's polo in 2016. We trained 10-12 women from Leh in horseback riding and polo techniques. By September-October the same year, a championship was held in Manipur where teams from 5-6 countries participated. Two women from our group were given the opportunity to play with the U.S. team, providing them with exposure."

Liyakat Ali, a polo player and coach from Leh, adds, "While training boys in polo, we noticed a lot of interest from girls, which is how it all began. So far, I've trained 18-20 girls in horse riding, and among them, 10-12 are now proficient in playing polo."

Ishey Lamo, a polo player on the Animal Husbandry Department team, says, "I have started playing this year and got trained in Chushot under my coach Raza sir. The first time I was scared but now I am not scared anymore."

Similar sentiments echo from Diskit Dolma from Darchiks, who has done her 15 days basic training in Drass and is currently undergoing training in Delhi.

While polo is gradually being revived in Ladakh, much remains to be done. The sport is largely sustained by ordinary players who bear the cost of their own equipment and horses. There is a pressing need for better incentives and support to ensure the growth and sustainability of this iconic tradition.

The newly inaugurated stadium in Drass marks an important milestone in reviving polo in Ladakh. Mohd Amin Polo notes, "Having a full-sized polo ground is crucial for players to realise their full potential. Playing on a smaller ground and then transitioning to a larger one can impact the team's performance, both directly and indirectly."

Amin Polo also highlights the importance of polo boosting tourism in Ladakh. He says, "Polo has immense potential to boost tourism in Ladakh, much like ice hockey. It has drawn prominent polo players to Drass, highlighting the region's unique sporting culture. With the right focus, the day is not far when Ladakh will be recognised as a hub for polo, both nationally and globally."