Polo Association plans much grander tourney
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 03 2013: Saying that they were satisfied with the way the 7th Manipur Polo International Tournament was organised as part of the Manipur Sangai Tourism Festival 2013, the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association has announced that the next edition of the tournament would be much bigger.

Speaking at a gathering held at Hotel Kristina here this morning, office bearers of the association said that the international polo tournament held in November was a curtain raiser for next year's polo tournament.

The association has been planning to organise a grand international polo tournament next year to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first international polo match played between Manipuri players and British players at Calcutta in 1864.Until then, the game was known by its indigenous name Sagol Kangjei.

The association is also planning to commemorate the historic match throughout the year.

The game of polo which originated from the Sagol Kangjei match played at Calcutta in 1864 is now played in more than 70 countries.

For the game of polo, Manipuri breed of pony is inalienably important.

To protect Manipuri pony, popularise the game of polo and promote polo tourism are the basic objectives of the next year's grand international polo tournament, they asserted.

At least eight foreign teams including England, USA, Germany, Australia and China would be invited to next year's tournament.

With due permission of the State Government, particularly the Chief Minister, prince William of England has been invited to grace the commemorative polo tournament.

Apart from the grand polo tournament, the association is considering to organise three other polo tournaments in April-May next year.

In many foreign countries, polo is seen as a royal game played by only millionaires.

Most of the players who came and played polo in Manipur were genuine polo lovers and they came all the way to Manipur at their own expenses.

It was no easy task to arrange accommodation and food for the high class foreign players, said the office bearers.

They further appealed to all the people to extend all possible assistance in all efforts aimed at promoting the game of polo which is intertwined with the culture of Manipur.

It was public support and assistance which made the 7th Manipur International Polo Tournament a grand success.

They also conveyed gratitude to all the people as well as Governor Dr Ashwani Kumar, Chief Minister O Ibobi, Speaker Th Lokeshore and other Ministers for their key contributions.

Talking about the fate of Manipuri ponies, the office bearers, quoting official records, said that the total population of ponies in Manipur is lesser than 1000 .

In hill areas, ponies are used for different purposes.

Counting these ponies and another 600 ponies scattered around in Manipur valley, the total number of ponies is just around 1000 .

Saying that the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association has been working hard to protect ponies, they informed that there are around 100 ponies in the association's pony breeding farm at Lamphelpat.

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