The modern game Indian Polo (Polo in India) – CCT

Happy to welcome you all sports readers. Today we are getting the topic that is rarely seen in Indian polo. Along with this, we reap Indians’ contribution to Indian polo and its history.

Here is the topic that is rarely seen in Indian polo. Along with this, we reap Indians' contribution to Indian polo and Polo in India's complete history

History of Indian polo

A slave from central Asia Qutubuddin Aibak became Sultan of Delhi. Also ruling for four years passed away in Lahore while playing polo. As well as it became popular in Mughal emperors chaugan. Emperor Akbar formed the official set of rules for the sport.

A man from the northeast Indian state of Manipur playing the game sagol kanji, meaning ball. Furthermore, the people wear a turban on their heads with a dhoti. 

In particular, players riding on horses strike the ball with a stick, scoring goals. Lt.joseph Sherer, a British military officer posted in India Watched the game and became excited to know in detail.

Sherer spoke about the game to his colleague capt Robert Stewart “we must learn the game” the local sport pulu in 1859 became a global sport polo.

In Manipur, the game played with seven players on both sides. With no goal post on both sides, the winner decided by hitting the ball at the opposite side of the field. The sticks are made of cane and balls by the root of bamboo. Manipuri ponies are known for grit and activity shoeless.

Public games played on the outer polo ground whereas the kings of Manipur had a royal polo ground with ramparts of their Kangla fort. The oldest and most widely measured polo ground is Imphal polo ground in Manipur state. Once lord Curzon visited India in 1901 he measured the ground as 225 yards long and 110 yards wide. 

The first polo club was established in 1834 at Assam Silchar.  Also, the famous and oldest club was formed in Calcutta by British soldiers in 1862.

Polo in India – Evolved game

In the 19th century, the game is different from the previous, which is slow and methodical. Because the horse is not, the players have trained to play faster. Obviously, people weren’t interested in watching a game like this. 

Indian principals dominated international polo from 1800 to 1910. Central India horse, prince Albert victory own cavalry, Dragoon guards, 10th Royal Hussars, 15th Lancers, some prominent cavalry regiment. In particular, the Jaipur team has won the Indian championship and open tournaments held in Britain. Moreover created unbeatable records and became the Indian open champions for eight years from 1930-to 1938.

Indian polo association

After the boom of the second world war, interest in Indian polo has reduced. The Indian polo association has formed in 1892. Furthermore, the first club in the country, the Calcutta polo club hosted the tournament after post-independence. IPA invited Argentina’s and Pakistan’s national polo teams to play event games across the country to bring back interest in this sport.

The polo clubs kept increasingly clenching regular tournaments. Some club names  
  • Jaipur
  • Delhi
  • Bombay
  • Hyderabad

The game started to move its feet slowly, winning the polo championship after 17 years in 1956 and the world championship in 1957. In addition, the Indian army adopted the game, granting permission for new grounds.

The new president trophy had been launched by a patron in chief of IPA by Fakruddin Ali Ahmed. Apart from this IPA completed 100 years. In addition, polo started to grow in south India Bangalore, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Udaipur, and Jaipur. There are 33 clubs registered in IPA. Now the corporate and industrial houses are the corroborative teams in the trained polo revolution. 

Even though the game was played by royals in the past, now the time has begun. Importantly, the exposure of games towards the youngsters has increased. Moreover, 25 odd professional players are making a reasonable living from the game. Clearly, there has an extent for youngsters to become professional and completely depends on their proficiency as a player. Polo in India is growing teams and benefactors spent huge money on horses and players. So Indian polo will climb up the mountain. 

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