Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The four-day 20th Senior Men and 16th Senior Women Cycle Polo Federation Cup 2026-27 concluded on Tuesday at the historic Polo Ground in Srinagar, drawing more than 220 athletes, officials and volunteers from across the country.
In the men’s category, the Indian Army emerged as champions after defeating the Indian Air Force, while the Territorial Army secured third place. In the women’s category, Chhattisgarh lifted the championship title, with Kerala finishing as runners-up and Uttar Pradesh taking third place.
Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi was the Chief Guest at the closing ceremony. Guests of Honour included Ahmad Lalani, Chief Commissioner of the Cycle Polo Federation of India (CPFI); Suvendro Mullick, President, CPFI; C.K. Pandey, General Secretary, CPFI; Imran Shah, Chairman of Legends School; Muzamil Dar, Physical Educator, YSS; Imran Shah, Managing Director of Shugul; M.L. Nayak, Technical Chairman, CPFI; Vilayat Hussain, President of the J&K Cycle Polo Association (JKCPA); and Sheikh Zulfikar, General Secretary, JKCPA.
The Chief Guest presented mementos to distinguished guests, umpires and members of the media in recognition of their support and contribution to the smooth conduct of the championship. Ahmad Lalani, together with the president and general secretary of the CPFI and the president and general secretary of the JKCPA, distributed trophies, medals and certificates among the winning, runner-up and second runner-up teams.
The championship was organised by the JKCPA under the aegis of the CPFI and sponsored by the J&K Sports Council. It was supported by Legends School, CP Advertisement Agency, Khyber Cements, 10th Battalion SSB, Red Stone Drinks and Shugul. The backing of the J&K Sports Council as sponsor reflects institutional support for the discipline in the Union Territory.
The conclusion of the tournament marked an important sporting event for Jammu and Kashmir, bringing together teams and sporting officials from across India at the historic Polo Ground. Hosting a national federation cup of this scale in Srinagar showcases the Valley’s capacity to stage competitive sport, while giving local players and organisers exposure to teams from the armed forces and from states as far apart as Chhattisgarh and Kerala.
The presence of more than 220 participants, spanning athletes, officials and volunteers, points to the organisational effort that goes into staging a national event of this kind. Cycle polo, a fast-paced team sport played on bicycles with mallets, drew a full four days of competition in the heart of the city before the closing ceremony brought the championship to a close.
