Manipuri women earning space in male-centric Polo
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 05 2022: Making forays into the traditionally male oriented game of polo, more Manipuri women have come up to break the stereotype and riding the semi-wild ponies to play polo simply out of love for this fast-paced sports and adoration of critically endangered equine despite lack of opportunity in this held.

All Manipur Polo Association (AMPA) president Dr Konsam Saratchandra told The People's Chronicle that Manipur is producing women polo players unlike anywhere in the rest of the country.

They (women players) now have a chance to play regularly, are getting necessary exposure and are being treated equally like the male players.

At least 20 to 30 women are actively involved in the sport now and they participate in both international tournaments and district level competitions, he said, adding that Manipuri women form the bulk of female polo players in the country.

To promote these women polo enthusiasts, Manipur Tourism joined hands with AMPA, Incredible India and Polo Yatra to launch the annual Manipur Statehood Day Women's Polo tournament, which currently is the only international women's polo tournament in India since 2016.In the last edition of the competition in 2020, women teams from USA, Great Britain, Argentina and Egypt participated.

Despite such initiative from AMPA and others involved to empower women, the task of keeping alive the critically endangered Manipuri pony is gigantic, he added.

Khundongbam Habe, who had captained India B women polo team thrice at the annual International Women tournament held in Imphal, told The People's Chronicle that feeding the ponies is the most expensive part of the sport as they have a voracious appetite.

They had to be fed daily with grasses, crushed Chana (chick peas) and others.

It takes a severe strain on the pocket, she added.

In the old days, ponies being descendants of Asiatic wild horses were let loose in the vast wetlands of Imphal valley.

As infrastructure development expands and all the natural wetlands and grazing fields have virtually disappeared, there is severe shortage of fodder for ponies nowadays, she pointed out, while adding that loss of natural habitats and dwindling fields for practice have seriously affected players.

Modern day polo originated from Manipur after British officers in Cachar witnessed Manipuri princess playing polo or 'Sagol Kangjei' in the mid-19th century.

Despite the 'harsh realities' which players and caretakers experience in maintaining ponies, young Manipuri women in their early teens continue to be attracted towards the sport of their ancestors even though men had dominated this game from the very beginning.

Kh Deventy, another international polo player, said that many girls come to get training and play polo.

However, few of them fell from the ponies which seriously dampen their spirit and stop coming for further training.

She said that female players in this sport need to be courageous and resilient as they have to learn to control almost 200 kg semi-wild horses.

She said that women still face restrictions from various quarters.

Many outstanding women players with high potential have discontinued playing before they reach 30 years of age due to objection from their spouses, Deventy informed.

"Many women players hail from humble background and it is hard to earn a livelihood from playing polo though I was fortunate to get a government job due to benevolence of chief minister N Biren Singh, who has shown much sincerity towards saving pony, polo and the players, Deventy added.

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