Theoretically, the first polo match was played in Persia around 2,500 years ago. After a period of time, people thought that the equestrian sport was created by contending tribesmen of Central Asia. However, the polo game, played by tribesmen was an unorganized and rough version of polo . Eventually, the sport got hold by the kings as a method to coach their cavalries. Ergo, even at present, the factual origin of the sport is unknown.
Moreover, as suggested by scholars and historians, the richest accounts of polo can be traced through Indian, Persian, and Chinese literature as well.
Polo Game in India
In the year 1860, two British soldiers Lieutenant Joe Sherer and Captain Robert Stewart had a pleasant sojourn in Manipur (North-Eastern State of India). During the stay, they witnessed some locals playing a game on horseback, chasing and hitting a ball with a stick. On the other hand, being professional horsemen themselves, the soldiers got fascinated with the play. Subsequently, after arriving back to Kolkata from Manipur with the reminiscent of the game, perhaps, being their base camp at that time, Lt. Sherer and Capt. Stuart put forth the idea of making it a proper sport. Finally, goalposts were planted, 4 team members per team were decided, and the Calcutta polo Club was established in 1860 at the dispersion of the two soldiers.
Likewise, after the advent of the Englishmen in India, the game of polo was organized and later, made popular in the country.
The fulcrum of polo in India was established in 1892 as the Indian Polo Association (IPA). There were some famous polo teams at that time, such as the team of Alwar, Bhopal, Bikaner, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and many others as well. But, the best among them were the Central India Horse, Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry, and the 10th Royal Hussars.
Also read: POLO LEGACY OF LORD MOUNTBATTEN
Polo Game in Manipur
Admittedly, Manipur is the key to modern-day polo because the origins of the polo game in Manipur provide a mythological aspect of the game. It is saturated with the culture and folklore of Manipur in such a way that rich sequences in festivals are devoted to the game of polo. Also, it is embedded in its literature which originates from that period with several mythological books of the state such as ‘Thangmeirol‘ and ‘Kangjeirol’, making references to the game.
Image Credits: Momo Irengbam
Ancient folk games, precursors of many contemporary sports, were characterized by several different factors, regardless of whether the mode was equestrian or pedestrian. There was wide variation regarding the number of participants, the ground’s size and shape, the amusement time span, and its regulations.
Folk games were a deeply ingrained custom in most communities. A form of lacrosse among Native Americans, knappan in Pembrokeshire, Shrovetide football in Ashbourne, hurling in southwest England and Ireland, golfing precursors such as pall-mall and kolf in Europe, mounted games in Asia and, more recently, the game of polo in South America had a large following, either as spectators or participants. It was usual for most of a village’s inhabitants to show up for the game.
According to official records, polo game in all its modernity, was being played in the state during the 19th century, but folk tales give an entirely different story to share. Allegedly, Manipur has polo not just among the mortals, but also has Marjing, who is considered the God of polo and has a pony as his carrier as well.
Moreover, the Lai-Haraoba festival of the state depicts the life and times of Khori-phaba, the polo-playing god of sports. Ergo, these facts indicate that the game has roots in the state from ancient times and the royal families of Manipuri played a vital part in popularizing the game.
Taking every fact into account, Manipur brought noticeable change to the game and definitely, it is a sports paradise.
Also read: MANIPUR : THE BEGINNING OF MODERN POLO
Polo Game in Jaipur
In 1933, the Jaipur polo team carved a unique and unbeaten record to date, by winning all the open tournaments in the United Kingdom and the Indian Championship successively from the year 1930 to 1938. However, national disturbance and malice caused by the Second World War gave a crippling setback to the sport in the 1940s.
Hence, in the Indian context, the whole burden of reviving the polo game and maintaining the grounds fell on the Indian Polo Association. After a series of discussions, the conclusion was drawn that in order to revive the equestrian sport in the country, the country has to invite several foreign teams of polo, which would play exhibition matches at different locations across the country. In 1950, the Argentine Polo team was invited by India to take part in its tournaments in Jaipur, Delhi, and Bombay. In 1955, the Pakistan Army Polo team was invited in a similar series of events. Both these visits carry utmost importance towards Indian Polo.
Finally, Jaipur, Delhi, Calcutta, and Bombay started initiating tournaments in the country at a faster pace. In this initiative, Calcutta took the lead as Polo was a popular game among the sports-loving people of Bengal.
In 1957, an official Indian polo team was sent to take part in the World Championship in France that included Major Kishan Singh, Kr. Bijay Singh, Rao Raja Hanut Singh and H.H. Maharaja of Jaipur. India made a huge impact during the championship, beating all other international polo teams.
Polo Game in Jodhpur
The premier planner of Jodhpur polo was Lieutenant–General Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh (1843-1922), brother of Maharaja of Jodhpur. General Pratap Singh founded Jodhpur Lancers and institutionalized them to Polo.
Contemporarily, like a store of gifts for polo players, Jodhpur falls as an equal contributor to the sport in India. It is considered to be one of the quintessential locations for polo tournaments.
Polo Game in Punjab
Referred to as the conquer of sports world over, Polo is also known to be the game of the blue-blooded, the rulers, the nobles, and the aristocrats since the ancient era. At present, it is associated more with social status and class
The Maharaja Ranjit Singh Polo Federation aims toward the elevation of equestrian sports in the state. Significantly, Punjab has witnessed the origin of leading the beast The venture has made Punjab witness the inception of an era of equestrian beasts while winning the hearts of spectators. Also, the state conquered a mammoth territory more than the size of around 3 football grounds.
On the other hand, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Polo Premier Challenge (MRSPPC) in Punjab, has given back the royal legacy, strong strength, class, and tradition to the land of kings. The maiden Polo League of the state aims at satiating the hunger for equestrian rage and the craving for the luxury of the elite audience.
Polo Game in Delhi
Although the Polo game has not been the center of polo in India, it is the most engaging point for equestrian lovers. Delhi has established a reputation for creating a strong foundation for amateur riders with its Delhi Polo Club. The club was founded in the year 1968 by the Late Captain Kundan Singh & American couple (Mr. and Mrs. Douglas). The riding club is now managed by his daughter and professional team, who take an active interest and participate in training the instructors and the young riders.
The systematic approach used by the trained instructors ensures that the riders develop confidence over time and practice. It provides training of riding facilities all through the year on a regular membership basis and otherwise.
Notable Indian Polo Players
Here are some of the contemporary polo players who have outstanding handicap ratings with impressive accounts of achievements.
1. Simran Singh Shergill
A dextrous polo player with a verve of achieving the highest goal during a tournament, Shergill is ranked at a handicap of +6 goals. He began playing polo in 1997 and traveled to Columbia and Argentina. He was recognized as an ace spring player.
In 2003, he was picked up for the first time in the national team for qualifying at the world championships in Pakistan. He also played polo in all the continents during his career, making him a multifariously experienced polo player. In India, he played for all the major teams and has won numerous Indian Opens championships & Indian Masters Tournaments.
2. Abhimanyu Pathak
After achieving a handicap of +5 goals, Abhimanyu Pathak has secured his position among the most formidable players on the Indian polo circuit. Despite his non-equestrian background, he has always been inclined to horse riding. A grounded and focused player, Abhimanyu has been playing professionally for a decade and has won almost every high-goal trophy including the Indian Open. A regular member of Sona Polo and Team Jaipur, Abhimanyu has also been part of the National side on many occasions.
3. Syed Shamsheer Ali
Shamsheer Ali, a six-goal Handicap player at present, started with a handicap of two, but with passion and determination, he notched up an impressive six-goal rating and an Asian championship as well. To get into the equestrian sport, his father, Nawab Syed Shujat Ali, had to build a farm and buy horses for him, and his brothers to play.
4. Dhruvpal Godhara
Dhruv started riding at the young age of 8 under the guidance of his father Udaipal Godhara, who was a Cavalry officer and a polo player. Dhruv is named among the world’s highest-rated Indian polo players and has reached a handicap of +5 goals. He has long been a part of the Indian polo team, representing the country in four World Cups.
5. Colonel Ravi Rathore
Concurrently, a +5 handicapped polo player, Rathore is a vigorous player to acquire the prime place in the list of highest handicapped players to have arisen from the Indian Army. He is the Hon. Secretary of the Indian Polo Association. Rathore has been awarded the “Arjuna Award” for accomplishing excellence in sports. He is a dazzling and evergreen polo player, who has profoundly contributed in the polo fraternity.
Polo clubs in India
Jaipur Riding and Polo Club
The Club was founded by Col. K. S. Garcha, one of India’s renowned polo players and former coach of the Indian national polo team. It is located in a country, known to be the cot of modern polo and the place where perhaps the equestrian sport first came into existence. The Jaipur Polo and Riding Club offers both an energized polo-playing experience and a resting atmosphere in a resort.
Rajasthan Polo club
The JAIPUR POLO CLUB, formed in 1918, comprised of players mainly from Jodhpur & Jaipur. With the merger of Jaipur State into the State of Rajasthan, the old Jaipur Polo Club was renamed RAJASTHAN POLO CLUB IN 1957. Rajasthan polo Club is a premier Polo Centre of our Country & has contributed extensively to the inclination of this sport in India & abroad. Jaipur has always been an important and popular polo center from the spectator’s point of view.
Gurgaon Polo and Equestrian Club
Gurgaon polo and Equestrian Club are located in Gurgaon, Haryana. Randeep Hooda, a famous Bollywood actor, known for various eccentric roles in Hindi cinema, owned the Gurgaon polo and Equestrian club. According to Hooda, the vision is to create a world-class Polo & Equestrian facility to make it accessible for every age group and connect every activity and sport around hounds and nature.
Amateur Riders’ Club (ARC)
The Amateur Riders’ Club (ARC) started in 1942 and is one of the oldest and largest private civilian riding clubs in India. Situated in the heart of Mumbai, it is a hub for equestrian sports throughout the year. The club provides riding lessons for all ages and organizes activities such as show jumping, polo, dressage, plot tent pegging, and more.
Calcutta Polo Club
Calcutta polo Club is located in Kolkata, West Bengal. Established in 1862 by two British soldiers Capt. Stewart and Col. Sherer is considered the oldest polo club in the world in existence. The club runs the oldest ever Polo Trophy, the Ezra Cup (1880), besides other old ones such as the Carmichael Cup (1910) and the Stewarts Cup (1932). Moreover, in earlier days, matches were played between various royal dynasties of India.
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Last Updated: 27th June 2022
