Manipur Polo International Tournament to be broadcast live on DD
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 15 2014 :
This year, Doordarshan has come out to avail the facility of watching live stream of all the matches of the 8th Manipur Polo International 2014 across the country.
The Polo Tournament is to be organised in connection with the Manipur Sangai Festival at Imphal as done in the previous years.
This was confirmed by organising secretary, Lt Col (Retd) Ranjit during an exclusive meeting with this newspaper.
He said that Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Institute have completed all the necessary preparations to show the world that the game of Polo was originated from this land.
Seven major teams from outside India will take part in the tournament, which will begin from November 22 to 29.The participating foreign countries, which will arrive in Imphal on November 21, are England, United States of America, South Africa, Poland, France, Thailand and Mongolia.
He assured that people will get a different taste from previous years as this year is commemorating the 150th year of historic event where the then British Army Officer Lt Joseph Ford Sherer has taken one Manipuri Polo Team to Calcutta (now Kolkata) on January 30, 1864 for an exhibition match for the first time.
Two granddaughters of Lt Sherer are also coming here on November 21 to witness the game.
On this day, the crew members of DD Sports will also arrive here.
Lt Col Ranjit expressed his confidence that Indian Team-B formed by Manipuri players will defend the champion title this year too.
Manipur team will not lag behind other international teams.
State team has been doing vigorous practice at Pony farm, Lamphel from last few days back.
Manipuri players also performed tremendously in the recently concluded 57 Mountain Division Polo Tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung, he added.
England is participating with a strong 14-member squad, and Mongolia will have a 12-member team including officials.
Seven member each from Thailand and USA, six member each from Poland and France will participate in the tournament, while South Africa will take part in the tournament with five member-squad only.