Chevgan, also known as Çevgen or Chovgen, is a war game dating back to ancient times and played by the Central Asian Turks on horseback to develop their equestrian skills. It is generally referred to as çevgen in colloquial language. The word "çevgan" originates from an ancient Iranian term meaning stick or rod. This sport spread from Central Asia through Iran and Greek territories to the rest of the world and evolved into modern polo.
Riding, which is the most distinct element of the nomadic lifestyle of Central Asian Turks, was naturally practiced as a sports competition and entertainment in daily life. Çevgan was played as a team sport in large areas by two groups among the Central Asian tribes who extensively used horses in all aspects of their lives. Arabs and Greeks also learned and played this sport, known as savlecan in Arabic and tsükanion in Greek. It is known that Emperor Theodosius of Byzantium built a stadium in front of his palace to play this game. References to this game can also be found in ancient Turkish sources such as Kutadgu Bilig and Divan-ı Lügatüt Türk. The oldest information about how the game was played is found in Iranian sources. Ferdowsi's epic Shahnameh mentions Siyavush and the famous Turanian ruler Afrasiyab playing çevgan.
Having such ancient origins and evolving into an equestrian sport recognized in many civilizations, the game of çevgan, usually played in palace circles, gained worldwide fame when British colonial administrators in Afghanistan and India learned it during the colonial period in the 19th century and developed modern polo. The word "polo" comes from the Tibetan language, meaning ball. After this historical background, we will explore the differences between çevgan and polo in the rest of our article.
Differences Between Chevgan and Polo
Çevgan is played on horseback by riders holding a stick in their hands on a field between two teams. There are two types of çevgan games: scoop çevgan and mallet çevgan. These two types of çevgan games are also known as scoop polo and mallet polo. Scoop polo was more preferred in Japan, China, and India regions. In this game, players score by hitting the ball with sticks while on horseback and passing it through the goal line. Teams usually consist of four riders, but this number can increase if the field is large. A team that scores 7 points wins the game. The wooden sticks used in the game are generally about 1.5 meters long. The game ball is usually a round ball made from wood, although other sources mention that the çevgan ball was made from goat skin. The player in çevgan is called a çevgân.
In modern polo, the objective is also for mounted riders to score goals by hitting a ball with a mallet in their hands. It is played with teams of four players each. The polo ball is 10 cm in diameter. Traditional polo is played on a grass field approximately 274 meters long and 146 meters wide. However, there are other variations of modern polo as well. For example, there is arena polo, a smaller version played sometimes indoors with three riders on each team. Apart from this, there are other variations adapted to different vehicles and areas such as three-player ice polo, elephant polo, bicycle polo, Segway polo, and beach polo.
In conclusion, polo, one of the oldest sports in the world, has survived to the present day with minimal changes. It is also known as the "Sport of Kings" due to its popularity in royal circles. Çevgan, reflecting the role horses have played in human life both in the past and present, with its unique rules and tradition, continues to be played as an important symbol in Turkish culture and is among the most well-known equestrian sports worldwide.