US polo team arrives
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 16 2016 : A women's team of United States Polo Association (USPA) arrived here to take part in the 1st Manipur Statehood Day Women's Polo Tournament which is slated to begin from January 17 and conclude on the Statehood Day of Manipur, January 21 at the historic oldest living pologround, Mapal Kangjeibung in lmphal.

Interacting with media persons today at Classic Grande, Chingmeirong, the US team expressed their pleasure to take part in Manipur's historic Statehood Day observance.

The tournament will be organized by All Manipur Polo Association (AMPA) and sponsored by the Department of Tourism.

After the final match on January 21, an exhibition game in Jaipur, Rajasthan will be hosted by the IPA and Rajasthan Polo Club with Team USPA named as 'Cow Girls' vs India Women's Polo as 'Gopis' on the final day of the Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh Cup.

The USPA players include Cristina Fernandez, Tiamo Hudspeth, Carly Persano, and Julia Smith.

They will represent Team USPA in Manipur and Jaipur.

For the 1st Manipur Statehood Day Women's Polo Tournament, four teams will vie for the title in seven league matches.

The teams include team Sangai which will be led by Carly Persano, team Kangla by Christina Fernandez, team Shiroi by Julia Smith and team USPA by Tiamo Hudspeth.

The mission is to not only promote women polo players in India, but to empower women in Manipur, some of whom run polo clubs and provide ponies for tournaments, stated rider Carly Persano.

The trip was organized by Steve Armour, of the Houston Polo Club and Govemor-at-Large of the National Board of Governors of the USPA, Hun-Tre Adventures, and L Somi Roy of Manipur.

Meanwhile, coach of the women polo team of USPA Steven Armour said that the team is the first international women's polo team to come to India.

The expedition of the women polo team comprises of three parts, he added.

Part one starts with an educational presentation by the USPA team and Hun-tre! Adventures on polo in the United States as well as India with importance placed on polo pony preservation and equine education.

The USPA team will then be introduced to Manipuri polo ponies and conduct a day long clinic prior to the.

start of the tournament.

Part two consists of The First International Manipur Women's Tournament organized by the All Manipur Polo Association.

Secretary of the Tourism Department, Nidhi Mani Tripathi exuded confidence that the tournament will develop Indian women's polo which is still in its infancy stage, as well as brand Manipur for the new global era by promoting polo as an international game with its origin in Manipur.

The State will be the theme of the cultural presentation at the games on the cultural presentation at the games.

A performance of Manipuri percussion organized by the Department of Arts and Culture will also mark the event.

The same cultural troupe will perform in the famous Jaipur Literature Festival to promote the tourism aspects of the State, she added.

The idea is to attract domestic tourists in the State, she said.

Further, she said the visiting women polo team will visit tribal villages in and around the city area and take cooking classes of traditional culinary cuisines at Sendra Tourist resort to promote tourism and they will be the brand ambassador of such activities.

The State Chief Minister has given assurance organising the women polo tournament as an annual event, she added.

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