TEHRAN – Asghar Nazemi was elected as head of the polo (known as ‘chogan’ in Persian) federation of Iran on Saturday for a four-year term till 2028.

In the elections held at Iran’s Academy Olympic in Tehran, Nazemi secured 26 of 29 votes cast.

UNESCO has recognized the team sport of polo, played on horseback, as Iran’s intangible cultural heritage during a session held in South Korea in 2017.

Polo is one of the ancient Iranian sports that has become a world sport nowadays. This sport is known as the game of kings due to its popularity among kings and nobles. The name polo is derived from the name of the wood used in it.

This game was originally a military title, where there were more wars and battles. Iranian cavalry showed the talent of their war horses.

The beginning and origin of this sport belong to ancient times, according to historical documents, this sport dates back to 525 BC.