Delhi Polo Season Begins: Bhopal Pataudi Cup (6 Goal)

The embodiment of polo perfection continued as the Delhi Polo Season ended the long-awaited excitement and introduced 20 of the finest players divided among five teams battling for glory. The thrill was different for people who witnessed the matches in person. If you missed all or even some of it, here’s how it went. 

Participating Teams 

Match 1: Delta Polo vs Army Red 

Date: 23 October 

The first game of this year’s Bhopal Pataudi Cup was between Delta Polo and Army Red. Army Red started the game with a point advantage. Despite facing a disadvantage, Delta Polo quickly recovered and guarded their posts well to have a 2.5-point lead when the final bell rang.

Winner: Delta Polo (7-4.5)

Match 2: Jindal Panther vs Achievers

The second game of the first day was the much-awaited battle between Jindal Panther and Achievers. Both teams have phenomenal players. The game, for most of the time, was close, but Jindal Panther had fortune favouring them, and they ended up being in the lead when time ran out. 

Winners: Jindal Panther ( 7-6 )

Match 3: Delta Polo vs Army Red 

Date: 24 October 

Delta Polo once again entered the ground to face the Army Red team. This rematch was even more excruciating for the latter team. This time, they had even less control over the ball and conceded ten goals to opponents who easily walked away with the win. 

Winner: Delta Polo (10-3.5)

Match 4: Jindal Panther vs Achievers Young/Navy

The next game was an exciting matchup between Jindal Panther and Achievers Young/Navy. This one was by far the highest-scoring game of the Bhopal Pataudi Cup. Achievers Young/Navy debuted in this game and did not disappoint their supporters. They put up a great fight, but Jindal Panther was again too good and did not lose their cool, which helped them win this high-scoring encounter.

Winner: Jindal Panther (10-8)

Match 5: Achievers vs Achievers Young/Navy

Date: 25 October 

It was time for Achievers to face Achievers Young/Navy for the first time in this tournament. Both teams proceeded cautiously, turning the game into a low-scoring match. Still, it brought everyone to the edge of their seats as both teams’ scores were levelled and the game went into overtime. Achievers scored the deciding goal and won their first game of the season. 

Winner: Achievers (5-4)

Semi-Final 1: Jindal Panther vs Army Red 

Date: 26 October 

After being undefeated in the league stages, Jindal Panther faced Army Red in the first semi-final game of the Bhopal Pataudi Cup. Despite having an advantage at the start, Army Red was not able to capitalise and fell apart completely in front of the attacks thrown at them by Jindal Panther. Jindal Panther scored twice as many points as their opponents, winning the game easily.

Winner: Jindal Panther (11-5.5)

Semi-Final 2: Achievers vs Delta Polo 

The second semi-final game was between Achievers and Delta Polo. This one was rather close, with both teams cutting off each other’s goals often. Going slow and steady, Achievers chipped in a couple of extra goals to stay ahead of Delta Polo when the final bell of the last round rang.

Winner: Achievers (6-4)

Exhibition Game: PBG vs Cavalry

Date: 27 October 

All these exhilarating battles were accompanied by an exhibition game between the PBG and Cavalry teams on the day of the finals. In the end, it was the PBG that lifted the trophy and won the match.

Winner: PBG 

Final: Achievers vs Jindal Panther 

Date: 27 October 

After witnessing too many fierce games, the crowd assembled one last time to experience an all-out battle between Achievers and Jindal Panther for the Bhopal Pataudi Cup. Until the halfway mark, the game looked almost equal, but in the third chukker, Achievers gave their fans a sense of relief by scoring a couple of goals and obtaining a lead of three points. Jindal Panther tried their best to keep up with the lead but could not catch up. 

Winner: Achievers (9-8)