Manipur lifts Polo International trophy
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 29 2012:
As the 6th Manipur Polo International concluded today aids thousands of polo fans crowding the gallery to witness the final match India-B (Manipur) lifted the champion's trophy after winning the final match against India�A today.
Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association organised the tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung, Imphal as part of the ongoing Sangai Festival which will conclude tomorrow.
In the final match, India�B (Manipur) beat India�A 15-5 and lifted the champion's trophy.
In the first chukker, India�A scored one goal while Manipur scored nine goals thereby stamping their domination on the game.
The lone goal of India�A was scored by Naveen Singh.
On the other hand, P Ojit and S Bimol of Manipur scored four goals each while their teammate M Jawan scored one goal.
In the second chukker too, India�A scored only one goal while Manipur scored three goals.
Naveen Singh scored the goal for India�A while S Bimol, M Jawan and T Pradipkumar scored one goal each for Manipur.
In the third chukker, Manipur extended their goal account to 14 with two goals while Indi�A could score only one goal.
The third goal of India�A also came from Naveen Singh while the two goals of Manipur came from S Bimol and Th Kaoba.
Meanwhile in the fourth chukker both the teams scored only one goal each and the match ended with the scoreline at 15-5 in favour of Manipur.
Like in the previous three chukker, the goal for India�A was scored by Naveen Singh while T Pradipkumar scored the goal for Manipur.
Manipur after winning the match lifted the champion's trophy while Inda�A after losing the match had to satisfied with the runner up's trophy.
Chetak of M Jawan was declared Best Pony and won a cash prize of Rs 5000.Arangba of P Ojit won the title of 2nd Best Pony which carry a cash prize of Rs 3000 while the title of 3rd Best Pony along with a cash prize of Rs 2000 was adjusted to Karu of Saratkanta.
Governor of Manipur, Gurbachan Jagat who graced the function as Chief Guest said "Manipur, though many of those from other countries are not aware, is the home of modern polo derived from the Sagol Kangjei of Manipur.
There are historical records of games similar to Polo being played in different parts of the globe at different times" .
"It was Lieutenant Joseph Sherer who first saw the game in Cachar in 1854 and he played his first match in Manipur in 1956.In 1859 he as Superintendent of Cachar established Cachar Kangjei Club and the first match was played in Calcutta in 1862 between between two teams of Culcutta and a Manipuri team played their first match in 1864.Thereafter it traveled to different parts of the country and the globe" the Governor said.
He also expressed his delight on the participation of a team from Hurlingham Polo Club at the world's oldest living Pologround in a place where the game was originated.
He also observed that Manipur had its own rules of Polo known as Kangjeirol which now have undergone tremendous changes.
He further asserted that the Hurlingham Club Rules for Polo were the most influential and the present international rules are based on it with only some minor modifications.
Stating that the polo pony of Manipur, which is a recognised breed of India, is small but sturdy and agile, the Governor observed that the ponies were not trained only for Polo but for multiple usage like riding and cavalry etc.
"The ponies even now are literally semi wile but this fine breed is fast depleting due to various reasons" he said and stressed the need to take up special efforts to preserve the breed from extinction and added that the tournament will highlight the problem.
The closing ceremony was graced by Governor of Manipur Shri Gurbachan Jagat and Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister AK Mirabai as Chief Guest and President respectively.
Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Abdul Nasir , Parliamentary Secretary of Youth Affairs and Sports M Prithviraj and Chairman of Hurlingham Polo Association, Englan Mr Nicholas Colquhoun Denvers also attended the function as Guests of Honour.
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