Master polo players Jai Shergill, Rajesh Sehgal and Akhil Sirohi spoke to Kritika Dua about the evolution of the oldest team sport
If it’s Jaipur Polo Ground on a Sunday this season, then you are sure to be in the thick of action. That you are surrounded by equestrian aficionados and the crème de la crème of the city is just incidental. The enthralling match this Sunday between Black Magic and Red Raiders, that saw riders and their horses racing the wind, ultimately tied at 4-4. Even without a decision, the sport was the winner.
The ball game runs in Jai Shergill’s genes. A third-generation polo player, who believes that the riders share a great camaraderie on the ground, he asserted, “My grandfather, father and uncle used to be master polo players. I have seen my father on field riding ponies from a young age. His game was similar to mine but I consider him a far better player. Polo came quite easily to me, I started playing when I was 18, carrying on the family tradition. Polo is the king of sports because its spirit is unmatchable. Which game has such grace and harmony between man, animal and the grass around itIJ”
Recalling a memorable moment on the field, he said, “We were playing finals for the Royal Kashmir team, there was a ball which caught my mallet and I called it out to the dismay of my captain.We lost the match but for me it’s crucial to have a peaceful sleep by doing the right thing. The game teaches you that.”
Polo these days has witnessed massive changes with corporate patrons, skilled players, newer horse breeds and youngsters joining in. Shergill welcomes the non-puritanical changes. For in the end the rider must connect with a horse and that should work both ways. Said he, “Exhibitions like this can act as a destresser as we are less competitive when compared to championships. I indulge in watching matches often as horses relax me when I am having a rough day.”
Shergill also maintained that the polo culture is mistakenly perceived as rigid but is actually fluid. “In Argentina, for example, one is born on a polo farm, of which there are many, and it is a part of the daily rhythm of life. Here, it has an elite connotation. We import superior breeds though Indian-breds are performing great too. The weather condition also plays a role as only certain months are considered favourable in India.” However, things are gradually changing as a lot of polo grounds are mushrooming in the country and most of them don’t have an entry ticket.
As a reinvented sport for millennials, Shergill himself trains amateur players. But he warns that it cannot be just a lifestyle statement. “It’s not an easy sport that everyone can play. It’s an expensive pursuit and requires considerable investment. To top it all there needs to be passion and determination to excel as one has to bear injuries along the way.”
The oldest team sport, which paved its way as a heritage sport and was further encouraged in the Army and Navy circuit, has retained its charm over the years. “In the earlier days it was played by the royal houses of Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur. Now, there are big patrons who are running it. I have represented India twice in the World Cup and it’s an honour to be on the field with ponies. One way of keeping the tradition alive is by passing on the ken to the next generation which my family has done and also Rajesh Sehgal’s.”
Rajesh Sehgal owns a polo team, breeds horses in his own farm and has a career spanning four decades. Said he, “My brush with riding happened during my school days. I studied in Modern School, used to do show jumping and swing and was the riding captain from class IX to XI. After passing out from school in 1977, I began my journey as a polo player and since then I haven’t looked back.”
Sehgal calls riding as well as being with horses a way of life and passion. His son grew up among horses and caught on the game soon. “My son started playing competitive matches at the age of 12. Now, 27, he has played for the country over four times. We maintain around 24 horses. The highest handicap he has achieved is four goals, driven solely by the passion for the game.”
Akhil Sirohi said, “I started playing polo as a cadet in NDA. I think polo has really caught on in the country and civilians are joining in.” Having been on the field for 20 years, he has seen the game evolve with several women polo players ramping up the scales. “Undoubtedly, women’s polo is the fastest growing sport in the world. In India, there is some phenomenal talent. Shreya Rudy is the brightest amongst the young lot. Internationally, there are several skilled sportswomen gracing the field. Polo women will be the next big thing.”
Every horse has its pros and cons. An Indian thoroughbred is usually faster than the foreign breed. The trained one is at par with the best foreign horses and the same has been proved in games. Sirohi said, “The sport has seen a variety of changes over the years. The quality of horses has improved undoubtedly but still Argentine horses, which are considered the best, have been imported in large numbers over the last decade. The reason some players prefer foreign breeds is that one has a larger pool of horses to pick from whereas here the horsepower is limited.”
The exhibition match was arranged by Neelam Pratap Rudy and Aashmeen Munjal.