While it is interesting to learn about the evolution of a certain sport from its humble beginnings to its most contemporary manners, it is exceptionally enthralling to discover the evolution of the different elements of that very game. One such element in the great equestrian sport of polo is the evolution or rather the presence of multiple modalities of “throw-ins” to allow players begin fighting for the possession of the ball. One might say “What history a petty practice of umpires throwing the ball in the field for player can have?”
What follows is then a rather elaborate and noteworthy answer to this very petty question. It is already known that polo had a whopping 2,500 years of history before we would come to watch it enjoyed by the top tycoons and business magnates alongside the extant Royalties of the world. When the game was still young, there were at least three practises involved in the game around the globe for initiating, what today seems to be perfunctorarily performed, “throw-in”.
One of the methods resembling the contemporary method was to allow an impartial person to throw the ball in for the poised players to start their helter-skelter for the ball. Significant to note here is that Umpires were not known at that time or were simply not recorded due to the low status of the umpiring profession, who can say for sure!
The second method was to allow an impartial person tread over to the ground and deploy the ball at the very centre equidistant to both teams in terms of reach. Then the action would begin with the deafening sound of bugles resounding the entire field with the start of this majestic battle of horses- so much so was the sound that the entire ancient city would come to know polo has began.
The most peculiar practice was that each team had a fixed number of balls given to them which they needed to put behind the posts maneuvering it from the hands of their opponents. The number of balls were not fixed and could go even upto 30 in some cases all the balls thrown together into the play. It seems that this version of polo was more suited to display soft skills of maneuvering and ball possession rather than strength, hence, this game was popular among women.
It is enthralling to know that there could even be 70 women playing at the same time on the same ground. To know more about the match of 70 Women Stay tuned till Saturday.
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