International Chovken Federation
Chovken in Azerbaijan: heritage and modern sport
Chovken is known in Azerbaijani as çövkən and is connected with the country's horse-riding culture, Karabakh horses and traditional community practice. Azerbaijan also plays a major role in the modern international organization and competition of the sport.
Çövkən in Azerbaijani culture
The Azerbaijani word çövkən is used for the traditional mounted game and for the sport in contemporary Azerbaijani communication. Related search terms include çövkən oyunu, çövkən idmanı, çövkən yarışları, çövkən komandası and çövkən oyunçuları. In English, ICF uses Chovken as its standard name.
The game belongs within a wider culture of riding, horse breeding, training, music, clothing and community celebration. Azerbaijani expressions such as atçılıq, atçılıq idmanı and ənənəvi atüstü oyunlar describe broader equestrian and traditional mounted-sport contexts rather than exact synonyms for Chovken.
UNESCO recognition and safeguarding
In 2013 UNESCO inscribed Chovqan, a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game in the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The decision recognizes knowledge passed between generations and a practice that contributes to community identity and belonging.
UNESCO also emphasized that safeguarding must include the social and cultural dimensions of the tradition, not only the match itself. Musicians, craftspeople, breeders, horse trainers, riders and local communities all form part of the living heritage around the game.
Traditional form and modern competition format
UNESCO's description of the traditional form refers to teams of five riders mounted on Karabakh horses. The current ICF rules describe a standard international lineup of four players, while allowing competition organizers to use squads of five. The difference reflects distinct rule contexts and should be explained rather than hidden.
Modern Chovken competitions use written requirements for players, horses, officials, playing fields, scoring and safety. Traditional practice remains a source of cultural meaning, while federation rules create consistency for international events.
Azerbaijan and the modern international federation
The International Chovken Federation was established in Baku after a founding assembly attended by representatives from 19 countries. The assembly reviewed the federation's statutes, governance structure and rules, creating a framework for international cooperation and competition.
Baku hosted the World Chovken Championship in 2024 and the second world edition in 2026. In 2026 ten national teams from five continents competed at the Bina Equestrian Center, with Azerbaijan defeating Chile in the final and Uruguay winning bronze.
Karabakh horses and Azerbaijani horsemanship
The traditional practice documented by UNESCO is closely connected with Karabakh horses - Qarabağ atları. The breed's place in Azerbaijani heritage makes horse breeding and horsemanship part of the wider Chovken story.
The connection should not be reduced to a marketing phrase. Responsible coverage needs to distinguish verified breed information, traditional community practice and the horse-welfare rules used in modern competition.
Other traditional mounted games
UNESCO nomination materials submitted from Azerbaijan mention other traditional mounted games alongside Chovqan, including papakh, yayliq, atustu gulesh and baharbend. These practices form part of the broader history of Azerbaijani equestrian culture, but each has its own rules and context.
A page about national or traditional sports should not claim that every mounted game is a form of Chovken. The most useful approach is to explain the relationships while preserving the identity of each practice.