With the earliest game dating back to the fifth century, polo, in its most primal form, was played mostly by the royalty in Persia. Owing to the royal affiliation, the game has garnered players and spectators from across the world and is now a high power indulgence. By Jigyasu Joshi
After a long cut shot, J.P. Clarkin, a professional polo player, picks the ball from the centre ground and pulls it towards the goal post. With his horse stretching well in itself and galloping in the direction of the post, he suddenly stretches his mallet from a 40-yard distance from the goal post and hits hard on the ball making it cross the two poles- converting into a goal for Jindal Panthers. The excitement in the final match of polo championship between Jindal Panthers and Rajnigandha Achievers is very high indeed. On a vibrantly green and immaculately groomed field, the polo players gather near the main stand - as they do after every goal.
Standing in the Taj Mahal Hotel lounge at the Jaipur Polo Ground with a glass of fine Scotch and watching the game of polo, we feel no less than royalty. But according to a former polo player, Samir Suhag, there is more to the “game of kings” than what meets the eye. “It is not only about riding the horse in those leather boots and swinging the mallet. The player needs to coordinate with the horse and at the same time keep an eye on the field for the ball. So apart from being an elegant sport, it is also about coordinating,” he says. Further talking about the development this game has seen, Suhag adds, “Polo is developing very quickly, in both traditional and emerging destinations.” He further says, “There are beautiful polo facilities being built and young players are drawn to the game. It’s an extremely exciting time to be a part of the scene.”
In fact, this ancient sport is enjoying a regal renaissance as its luxurious aura and finesse attract players and spectators from emerging markets across the world; keen to indulge in the rich traditions shared both on and off the polo pitch. Also, the royal affiliation is now part and parcel of the polo scene — an aspect that has helped attract a new generation of players and spectators from across the world.
A game that’s older than recorded history, polo was first played as a simulated war game by Central Asian nomads, with up to 100 players battling it out on each team. The sport taught essential equestrian skills and helped forge that timeless bond between man and horse. It was eventually adopted by the Persian royal family as a training regime for the king’s elite cavalry.
However, modern polo is said to have originated in Manipur, where Silchar Polo Club was founded in 1859 by British cavalry officers and plantation owners who observed the locals playing a strategic and fast-paced match on stout polo ponies. It wasn’t then long until the game’s place as an essential of high society was cemented.
“Polo, till a few years ago, was a virgin sport. Those who played were the ones who watched. Now, the audience has grown and changed. These days polo remains above all a popular sport among the independently wealthy and the upper classes. As a result polo clubs have acquired an air of exclusivity, played within an ambience that is still decidedly privileged and aristocratic,” says Suhag.
While we are talking to Suhag, the Jindal Panthers push the ball through the goal post, for the winning point. “This game is more popular because of the legacy it holds. Once reserved only for the royals, the game now is open for anybody and everybody to learn and play. However, the game still needs to be promoted as it’s a part of our heritage,” he concludes.