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This 12 months’s polo circuit began with a bang. In truth, in December, there have been three polo seasons consecutively occurring within the nation —in Jodhpur, Mumbai and Kolkata—one thing which has not occurred within the latest previous. This bodes extraordinarily effectively for a sport that is known as a nationwide treasure, in response to most individuals, because it has its roots in India however remains to be thought of area of interest and doesn’t discover too many takers among the many lots.
“India has a lot to do with polo. India gave modern polo to the world. It was here the British picked up the sport and took it to the entire empire,” says a member of the Jodhpur Polo Organising Committee that organised the twenty third version of the Jodhpur Polo Season at Maharaja Gaj Singh Sports Foundation Polo Ground in Pabupura, Jodhpur, from December 6 to December 31, 2022, underneath the auspices of Jodhpur Polo and Equestrian Institute, Jodhpur. This 12 months’s occasion noticed three Indian Polo Association (IPA) tournaments and eight one-day exhibition video games.
Also learn: India rises five places to 101 in latest FIFA rankings
In complete, about 40 polo gamers from around the globe, over 300 horses from many corners of India and a ‘small army’ of almost 150 individuals—grooms, different workers and attendants—camped within the ‘Blue City’ for almost a month. “All of this was only possible because of Maharaja Gajsingh II Marwar-Jodhpur and the Jodhpur Polo & Equestrian Society (JPEI), run under his patronage. Both Bapji, as he is fondly referred to, and Yuvraj Shivraj Singh, the prince, built the polo ground the way we know it today, in 2000,” says the official, including: “The Jodhpur season has been flourishing with increased footfall every season for over two decades—the best teams, players from all over the world, commendable representation of and participation by women, events woven around the season.”
Indeed, polo is the oldest recorded sport in civilisation, really adorning the title of a heritage sport, says Maninder S Sethi, founding father of La Polo International, a polo journal that captures the pulsating world of polo and the sportsman spirit that goes with the sport, each within the Indian subcontinent and overseas. The journal reaches out to polo devotees throughout 169 nations.
“The origin of polo is unknown, though it’s said to have originated from Persia but gained popularity in the country with the Mughals. In Manipur and other hilly areas such as Ladakh, it’s still played in its raw format, which is said to be the ancient template of the sport,” provides Sethi.
Polo is without doubt one of the world’s oldest identified staff sports activities and has additionally been referred to as the game of the kings, says Manu Sharma, common supervisor of Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur. In November final 12 months, Taj and its iconic grand palace lodge performed host to the championship event finals of Sir Pratap Singh Polo Cup in New Delhi to commemorate the dying centenary 12 months of Sir Pratap Singh, who established Jodhpur Polo in 1889. Singh is remembered as probably the most revered regent of Jodhpur and the pioneer of contemporary polo in India.
“While ancient polo finds its origins in Persia, India was the birthplace of modern polo. Since the 19th century, modern polo was played primarily by teams from various principalities as well as some cavalries of the forces. Given its history and the kind of exclusivity it has been synonymous with, it is largely considered a niche sport – though this perspective is witnessing a paradigm shift,” provides Sharma.
As a part of the Sir Pratap Singh Polo Cup finals, the nationwide capital witnessed a 14-goal event within the backdrop of a memorable presentation of tradition and delicacies on the Jaipur Polo Ground.
Riding the wave of time
Things are altering now, albeit slowly. Newer sport codecs and spectator-friendly settings, together with a refined enhance within the curiosity and exercise round polo, are boding effectively for the ball sport performed on horseback— a conventional area sport and one of many world’s oldest identified staff sports activities.
“The passion and fandom for this sport is picking up. I am sure it will be more popular among youth in times to come. It is not an easy game. I am optimistic it will become more popular and accessible,” says industrialist Naveen Jindal, who has been enjoying polo for the previous 35 years and owns a polo staff referred to as Jindal Panther Polo Team.
Jindal’s staff has to this point received numerous tournaments together with the Indian Open, Indian Masters, Maharaja Hari Singh Memorial Cup, Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia Cup and the Bhopal Pataudi Cup.
Polo has seen its justifiable share of rise and fall within the latest previous. Thanks to the Indian royalty, it was at its peak earlier than and throughout the British period. Then, it virtually vanished because of the World Wars and later independence of the nation. “But thanks to institutions like the Indian Army, the sport was revived, and its glory brought back,” says Sethi of La Polo International.
“Of course, it’s gaining momentum now as we see a large number of international players coming to the country and these numbers are only increasing every year. As of now Rajasthan, Mumbai and New Delhi are the prime and most active polo centres in the country but the sport has also gained momentum in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Haryana, Gujarat, and Punjab as well. We would be seeing many more new centres being established in the coming years which will not only bring popularity to the sport but also provide access to budding aspirants to the sport,” provides Sethi.
Over the final decade or so, there was a prolific development within the curiosity within the sport, says Sharma of Umaid Bhawan Palace. “It has been gaining significant ground and popularity with equestrians and with those who enjoy leisure sports. This has also led to the development of training centres and clubs spearheaded by qualified instructors. All this has definitely caused a good rise in the number of polo tournaments, which is echoing the bright future of the sport in India,” he provides.
The Living Legacies of the Taj – its iconic palaces, such because the Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur and Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, owing to their royal heritage have been synonymous with the game. “Long heralded as a purveyor of Indian heritage, we have been at the helm of promoting the sport through various cups and tournaments over the years in Jodhpur, Jaipur and even in Delhi,” affords Sharma.
“There is a subtle increase of people from all walks of life joining and playing polo. In fact, as time has progressed, the circle has widened to envelope many in its fold— politicians, students, doctors, entrepreneurs, etc,” says the Jodhpur Polo Organising Committee member.
Challenges & approach ahead
According to the Jodhpur Polo Organising Committee member, polo is a distinct segment sport— area of interest within the sense that it wants a number of paraphernalia to play—horses, gear, participant, grounds and all of the administration round it. “It is a fast, furious, and contact sport; so, it does rub shoulders with being risky. This ultimately makes it out of reach for many people. The cost of playing the game, not to mention, is, of course, another barrier,” the official provides.
Sethi of La Polo International agrees. Polo is a distinct segment and distinctive sport on account of many causes; outstanding amongst them being the horse and the fields to play, he says. “Horses are not only expensive to buy but the upkeep cost is also high, and to play the sport you need to have access to the polo field (which is equivalent to nine football fields). This is a huge chunk of land pocket and not conveniently available at many places/cities. It’s not only expensive but equally dangerous too—only the strong-hearted ones are seen playing or having interest in the high-adrenaline rush sport,” he provides.
Needless to say, a lot must be accomplished. Polo isn’t cricket, it doesn’t have mass following or enchantment. However, like every sport, it lives off its supporters. “Polo attracts and exuberates confidence, being affiliated to the sport, as a player or patron, essentially tells the world that you have ‘arrived’,” says the Jodhpur Polo Organising Committee member, including: “Governments, NGOs and businesses naturally need to take a more active part in supporting the sporting ecosystem. Polo is not alone, but as a sport which offers so much and has great potential for a country like India, it would be fair to say, more sponsorships and patronage are in order.”
Much work has been accomplished; many enterprise homes reminiscent of Jindal Steel, Sona, Rajnigandha, Carysil, and many others, to call a couple of, are already supporting the game and reaping rewards from it. “It’s a different story that the promoters of these companies are also polo players themselves, but to be able to play and reap rich, albeit indirect, benefits for their respective business is only icing on the cake,” provides the Jodhpur Polo official.
The authorities is urged for extra help, as polo isn’t solely a heritage sport however an excellent tourism promotion exercise too, says Sethi of La Polo International. “Special provisions are required to be created to establish more centres, training centres for players as well as horses. Polo should be included everywhere in the showcase of Indian heritage. For a place like Ladakh, which is among the only two high-altitude polo fields in the world, special focus is required to uplift the sport and establish such places as permanent centres,” provides Sethi, who can be behind The Indian Polo Awards that have been launched in 2021 to recognise excellence inside the polo fraternity.
“The Indian Polo Awards is a platform to celebrate the spirit of Polo. Polo is not what you just get to see on the field. On the field is just the final action and what goes behind the field to make that action happens is being recognised and celebrated with The Indian Polo Awards,” explains Sethi, including: “It’s an initiative to invoke competitiveness among the playing members, to recognise the efforts of unseen heroes, those who make the final action happen, to encourage more and more patrons, sponsors and people to get associated with the heritage sport and to share gratitude with everyone who stood for the sport in any manner.”
A visit down reminiscence lane
Lt Gen Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh was born on October 22, 1845, within the royal household of Marwar Jodhpur and was adopted because the Maharaja of Idar. As the regent of Jodhpur, Singh’s nice contributions have been the modernisation of the state’s administration and introduction of contemporary polo together with the elevating of the Jodhpur Lancers. The Jodhpur Polo Team, first led by him, dominated the game from the Nineties by to the Nineteen Twenties, when only a 12 months earlier than his dying he had the satisfaction to witness Jodhpur beat the “invincible” Patiala staff. The Jodhpur Lancers underneath him went on to realize the fabled standing because the “Jo Hukums” in WWI, incomes many laurels in Europe and Palestine, earlier than creating historical past at Haifa in 1918, in what is taken into account the final profitable cavalry cost.
Singh established Jodhpur Polo in 1889 with the assistance of Col Stuart Beatson of Bengal Lancers. In 1897, he travelled to London for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee with the Jodhpur Polo staff, the primary India staff to play in England. They received many matches at Harlingham and Ranelagh and established themselves because the most interesting staff in that period. Singh offered the Connaught Polo Cup to the Indian Polo Association (IPA) in 1921 to commemorate the go to of the Duke of Connaught to India in appreciation of his contribution to the sport, which after independence was renamed after him.
Sir Pratap Singh Polo Cup has been performed since then as certainly one of IPA’s most prestigious cups. “In 2022, the tournament commemorated the centenary year of Sir Pratap Singh’s death anniversary. Sir Pratap Singh Polo Cup pays tribute to Sir Pratap and celebrates our custodianship of the legendary Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur,” says Manu Sharma, common supervisor of Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur.
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