THE Orient discovered it, India nurtured it and the West grabbed it right out of our laps. And raised polo, the game of the maharajahs, to a standard that is considered a close second to Formula I racing in terms of sheer excitement.
THE Orient discovered it, India nurtured it and the West grabbed it right out of our laps. And raised polo, the game of the maharajahs, to a standard that is considered a close second to Formula I racing in terms of sheer excitement.
And indeed it is. Bombay played host to the fourth Oberoi Polo Cup on April 6, flag-ging off a 30-day pageantry of snorting, sweating polo ponies. During the month, some 300 horses and over 50 riders will compete for five important polo cups in 17 exciting matches. On array will be the cream of the country's polo players both from the armed forces and the rising crop of young professionals. Six international players from Argentina, a country which has perfected polo almost to an art, will add an edge of competitiveness in the arena.
Co-sponsored by Oberoi Hotels, Nitco Tiles, British Airways, Purolators and Piramals, the 1996 equestrian championships promise the pomp that is associated with this ancient sport when the Jaipur Tigers and Indian maharajahs ruled the polo fields of the world. Says Ajay Piramal, once a player, and now president of the Amateur Riders' Club (ARC): "Compared to the '30s and '40s, the standard of polo in India has fallen. However, in the past couple of years, the game has improved, thanks to some promising young players."
But a lot remains to be done to revive the sport as was evident from the response of the 300-odd people—all invitees—on that Saturday afternoon. As the Indian Polo Association (IPA) President's team and the ARC President's team battled on field, the crowd, mostly young housewives with precocious, badly-brought-up children in tow, young executives in dark suits on a perfect summer's day and teenaged girls, appeared to be more preoccupied with themselves and their apparel—Raybans, Elizabeth Arden and Eternity perfumes et al—an eyesore amidst the Oberoi's carefully built up ambience complete with liveried waiters and sparkling crystal for the post-match high tea.
A perfect pass that almost got converted into a goal didn't draw a collective sigh from the audience—three cellular phones rang instead. And when there was a foul, three voices from the upper row cried out: "Hi, Rita / Sasha / Paloma /whatever... How're you...are you coming for Mohnish's party...you look lovely...no dear, we're planning to go to the Piano Bar...why don't you join us...see you after the show..." And just when the red flag went up declaring a goal, there was a matronly screech: "Ashish, the ground is dirty, darling. Don't touch the rope."
Even the live commentary failed to inject excitement into the crowd. But then Bombay has just entered the polo circuit and as Piramal says: "Once these matches start being telecast, the interest and the crowd participation will also go up exponentially."
To give them their due, Oberoi Hotels has done its bit to revive a rich tradition. It is actively involved in the Indian Polo Promotion Foundation (IPPF) that aims at encouraging excellence and professionalism among young Indian polo players. The IPPF has fielded two polo teams—The Oberoi Blues, which won the coveted open IPA Cup in Calcutta in 1993, and Piramal Enterprises, which lifted the 14-goal handicap Darbhanga Cup the same year. The two teams also won the President of India Cup and the IPA Championship in 1995.
Polo is a game of synchronised instincts. Says Abhay Kanoria of the Kanoria group of companies who had the highest two-goal handicap five years ago: "The one thing you need to play polo is jigar (courage). Everything else is secondary." But even more important is a passion for horses and riding.
The origins of polo are lost in time, though it is said to be 25 centuries old. Even the name is an etymological controversy. Does it come from the Tibetan word, pulu, used to describe a ball shaped from a round root? Or is it derived from palas, the Persian word for slow-burning wood from which the balls were made. In India, polo captivated the upper class when the 10th Hussar regiment popularised it in Manipur. The first Indian polo club was set up in Calcutta in 1863 and the game soon spread to other British colonies.
Delhi is considered the Mecca for polo, thanks to the army which has represented the game over the years. The capital also boasts two polo grounds, one in the heart of the city. But the best polo grounds is considered to be in Calcutta. Maybe. But given Bombay's penchant to be in step with the times, it may not be too long when polo becomes de rigeur in the sports world of Bombay.
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