Yak Polo in Mongolia

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Yak polo rides to rescue of dying breed

 

By Richard Spencer in Ulan Bator

(Filed: 13/07/2006)

 

With a thunder of hooves, the armoured warriors evoked the glories of the

once great Mongol

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they galloped across the steppe outside Ulan Bator.

 

But yesterday the skilful riders of Mongolia's nomadic population were

putting their mounts to an unlikely use: yak polo.

[image: Mongolian yak polo players in imitation armour] Mongolian yak

polo players practising for a festival

 

The sport is growing in popularity according to the newly-founded Mongolian

Association of Sarlagan [Yak] Polo. Originally designed to entertain

tourists like the elephant and camel versions, the sport is booming with

four games a week being played this summer.

 

" Mongolians are interested because it's a new thing, " said Tsedendamba

Monhzul, whose family set up the first yak polo team last year. " Now we are

doing show games in Ulan Bator. "

 

Since the collapse of its economy with the withdrawal of Soviet aid 15 years

ago, Mongolians have fast realised the necessity of adapting to survive.

Nomads in particular, who make up almost half the population, had their

livelihoods subsidised under the old system.

 

Many have been encouraged to reinvent themselves for the adventure and

" ecotourist " market, selling horse-riding tours with accommodation in

traditional gers, or felt tents.

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Miss Monhzul's family tried this but decided to go further, partly to find a

reason to preserve the animal which is losing out to competition from the

more useful horses and goats. " In Mongolia the number of yaks is becoming

fewer every year, " she said. " So we are trying to find a way of protecting

this animal. "

 

Miss Monhzul said that although yaks have a reputation for being difficult

they can be trained to cope with a range of playing surfaces.

 

In December, when temperatures plunge to minus 30C (minus 22 F), they play

on the iced-over rivers.

 

" They fold their feet under them in a strange way to keep stable on the

ice, " she said. " They are mountain animals, so they are used to it.

 

" Having grown up in a nomad family, I know how to train and maintain this

animal. It is a wild and difficult animal.

 

" One day it's OK, the next day it is angry. But it seems to like it when

there are many fans out there screaming. "

 

The world should not be surprised that the sport has found an audience in

Mongolia. It is not clear where polo originated, with Persia and China both

having a claim, but historians agree that the Mongol empire spread it across

Asia. It was discovered by the British in India.

 

A crowd of 20 Mongolians gathered to watch a training session yesterday.

 

The big crowds - and money - come from tour companies, such as a group of 80

Germans who have booked tickets for a game today.

 

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