POLO:

The origin of Polo are obscure but it can be said that the Indian subcontinent was where the game was first played. The Sanskrit word ‘pulu’ means ball. It was a game full of danger both for the horse as well as the rider as it was played inside restricted walls in that time. The number of players was unlimited as was the duration of the game. The game probably used to end when either the participants had absorbed , there were too few players or ponies still left standing.

In later times, polo must have evolved into an exercise in horsemanship, and must then have been used to hone the skills of cavalrymen in times of peace. The game has been described by the poet Firdausi and was largely played amongst the nobles and kings.

The polo stick appeared in the Royal Chinese Coat of Arms under Ming-huang, the ‘Radiant Emperor’. The game became a popular subject in the cultures of the times, and was depicted in poetry, paintings, pottery and even jewellery.

Emperor Akbar was the first in the honorable line-up of men who have given a lot to the game; he was the first one to set rules according to which the game was played. At his time, the game was called chaugan, which in Persian means stick (there is a playing field within the the Pink City of Jaipur, still called “Chaugan Stadium”).

Today, Indian polo has evolved much, the founder of the Mughal royalty, in the 15th century, who popularized the sport. No longer an exclusive sport reserved for royalties, Indian polo has turned professional with numerous privately owned teams and significant corporate sponsorships all in tow. As well, there are more than 30 Indian polo clubs dotted all over India, catering to the needs of polo enthusiasts and the uninitiated alike.

The Jaipur Polo and Riding Club is one such polo resort facility, which was set up by Colonel K.S. Garcha, one of India’s foremost polo players, as well as past coach for the Indian National polo team. Colonel Garcha captained the Indian Polo Team on several occasions and was awarded the coveted Arjuna Award, India’s highest accolade for outstanding sportsmen.