The heritage sport of polo now attracts millennials, corporates and the middle class. Kritika Dua has a day out at the Indian Open Polo Championship
Sunday afternoon had Delhi’s cognoscenti descend at the Jaipur Polo Ground to witness the fierce contest between Jindal Panther and Sahara Warriors Achievers on the lushest greens. Jindal Panther emerged winners (by beating Sahara Warriors Achievers by 10 goals to 8) of The Indian Open Polo Championship. Shamsheer Ali and Italian Cutinelli Goffredo scored four goals each to help their team defeat Sahara Warriors Achievers. Abhimanyu Pathak was adjudged the “Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.” The corporates played with vigour on horseback and scored goals amid loud cheers.
Once a heritage sport, polo has in recent times caught the attention of corporates and is now the favourite of the start-up generation with youngsters finding a new headrush from riding a horse and training it to be in sync with a ball game. Said player Angad Kalaan, “I don’t think corporate involvement has changed the game much as those who join are purely passionate about the sport. Apart from Naveen Jindal and Sanjay Kapur, one doesn’t find many corporates opting for this sport. The Indian Open Polo Championship is a grand affair in itself. The grace of the animals and the adrenaline gush of a fast-paced sport have attracted viewers season after season.”
Apart from being a top-notch polo player, Adhiraj Singh is the CEO of a sports management company called Equisport. One of India’s finest horsemen, he has won many coveted titles including the Asian Games and Asian Championships. Said he, “It’s untrue that polo is mostly played by corporates these days as there are many young and middle class polo players on the circuit. Ninety per cent of polo players in today’s times belong to a middle class background. Wider access to training infrastructure has changed the scenario. It’s about the passion for horses, communicating with them, being in sync with their movements, love for speed and being able to take injuries as this is not a safe sport. One has to bear injuries from time to time. It’s also important to first get good training under a professional coach and then join polo clubs. In contemporary times there are hardly any royals who play polo. And though its image is hoity toity, fact is the upper crust doesn’t send many of its children to play the game as there is a risk of getting injured. Naveen Jindal and Sanjay Kapur are exceptions and they are in the game as they love the sport. In fact, Kapur started playing polo in his 30s. When affluent people join the sport, it creates an impact as commoners want to emulate them and that’s the reason a lot of youngsters are participating in this generation.”
He added, “Youngsters who are hungry to make a mark in the field are most welcome. Polo championships attract a huge amount of crowd because they have huge spectator value. At the match, many people were live tweeting the highlights of the match. Such is the power of social media that more people get inquisitive about the sport, want to learn the craft and join in the brigade.” Singh believes that to be a good polo player, the person should first learn to befriend a horse well and master the art of riding. He should hire a good coach or trainer and go to polo clubs and riding schools. “Unfortunately, the lack of easy access to horses and polo grounds is an issue. Also, there are not many trainers available on call,” he said.
Shamsheer Ali’s exploits at the Jaipur Polo Ground are well-known. With the mallet in hand, he is simply invincible. "We Indian professionals work really hard to compete with players who get their horses from abroad, such as Sahara and Jindals. We use Indian thoroughbreds and compete with these prolific teams. And sometimes play with them as well.”
Talking about the challenges of the game, he said, “We need more sponsors. We have to maintain the horses throughout the year though we play six months a year. So, anyone playing polo should be financially sound as this sport is expensive.” On his advice to budding polo players, Ali said, “My advice to the young polo players is to work harder and learn from the senior players. It’s vital to be financially stable as this sport is a little expensive. There is no need to be so nervous. Hot blood and cool mind will work perfectly.”
Polo player Himmat Singh Bedla felt that sponsorships has made polo accessible to all. “With sponsorships, more people are getting involved, either directly or indirectly. And there is a growing excitement among the public as well. Be it the history or on the international front, polo has always been associated with a gentleman’s sport which is talked about on a very different level. So there is an element of lifestyle and aspiration that have attracted big brands,” he added.