The 10-goal Baroda Cup kicked off today at the AEC Polo Ground. The tournament was off to a flying start with some intense polo action on the first day of the cup. His Highness Shri Fatehsinghrao P. Gaekwad gifted to the world of Polo the monumental Baroda Cup. The multifaceted Maharaja of Baroda and acclaimed politician was also a gifted cricketer and a sports enthusiast. Of the many sports he like, Polo was one. So in 1974, Maharaja Fateshsinghrao Gaekwad donated the Baroda Cup and its inaugural exhibition match was played on 21 December 1974. However, it was 1976 onward that the tournament became a regular fixture of the Delhi Polo Season.
7 teams divided into two pools will be participating in the Baroda Cup. The finals of Baroda Cup will be played on Sunday, 4th November at Jaipur Polo Grounds, Delhi.
Only one match was played on Day 1 of the Baroda Cup. The match was played between Krishna Polo Team and ASC Polo Team at AEC Ground No. II. The match started at 3:00 pm where participants for Krishna Polo Team were Ashvini Sharma (0), Bhawani Singh Kalvi (+2), Vishal Singh (+3) and Abhimanyu Pathak (+5). ASC Polo Team had Krishna Inkiya (+1), Naveen Singh(+2), Col GS Pandher (+2) and Col Ravi Rathore (+5). Krishna Polo were covered in white while ASC Polo Team played in orange.
Both the teams played with a +10 handicap. The first chukker began with a goal from Col Ravi Rathore. The score was 1 – 0 after Col Ravi Rathore’s goal. Col Ravi Rathore scored one more to extend ASC Polo Team’s lead. ASC Polo Team were leading by 2 – 0 when Col GS Pandher scored a goal in the final minutes for ASC Polo team. The first chukker ended on a score of 3 – 0 with ASC Polo team in the lead.
