Mapal Kangjeibung: A confluence of players from 3 continents
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 28 2015 : Manipur Polo International -- a dream destination for polo players from all over the globe -- continues to connect past glories with the present.

This year's edition has brought not only excitement to the participating players but also the family members back home.

The 8-day long tournament is being keenly followed with great enthusiasm from three great continents -- Australia, Europe and North America.

Every player has a story to tell.

More than the game of polo, the emotional expressions of three young players here give an opportunity to remind one and all the courage each one had to endure to keep continuing a tradition.

Mapal Kangjeibung: A confluence of players from 3 continents

For Michael Howe (31), coming to Manipur is a pilgrimage, following his great grandfather, Major Cecil Hungerford Jackson's footsteps.

Michael's father is also keenly following his son's journey.

He says, "On a personal basis, I am absolutely delighted that he should get the opportunity to play in Manipur which has such a distinguished place in the history of polo I am overwhelmed.

Michael's forebear Sir Keith Jackson (4th Hussars which was Winston Churchill's regiment and involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean war) was reputed to try his hand at various equestrian activities during the First Afghan War of 1839, when he was the official Persian interpreter for the Army of the Indus.

Major Cecil Hungerford Jackson is as a direct descendant of Sir Keith Jackson.

Cecil had one daughter, Audrey, who married Douglas Howe (Indian Civil Service) in 1943.Our family served, almost without break, in India since 1783 and have been involved in almost all major actions, such as Seringapatam, since then.

My father Douglas Howe was an amateur, civilian polo player" .

Michael has captained the England Polo Team several times.

Michael's grandparents passed away some years back but they were proud that he was following the family's sporting tradition.

"My father was delighted when I told him that MHRPA has invited England to take part in the tournament and that I was going to be in the team.

If you love polo and the ponies used in the modern games, then you simply have to have played here and ridden these wonderful ponies.

I think it is very important to be able to say 'I have played here' and my great grandfather and grandfather would have been very pleased and excited that somebody in the family was able to reach Manipur", says Michael.

USA Polo team captain 28-year-old Jared Sheldon's journey for the 9th Manipur Polo International is a dream come true.

Polo playing community in the United States had recently inducted his grand grandfather Russel Sheldon into the 'US Polo Hall of Fame' posthumously.

The call from USPA to Jared to lead the team to Manipur was a moment to rejoice for his family and all those who knew his grandfather.

Jared recollects how his grandfather introduced him the game at a tender age of seven.

"There is a permanent void in our family after his demise.

My grandfather would have been very happy for me to see this moment as I am one of privileged members of the USPA team to be playing at the world's famous ground believed to be the oldest living pologround in the world.

He lives in my heart and I am being physically, morally and spiritually guided by my grandfather.

I could start playing on the grass professionally at age eighteen 18.I am very excited to experience Manipur.

It is always an honour to represent your country," says Jared.

Having played for team USA in the zone qualifying for the FIP World Cup in the Dominican Republic, Jared was a member of the team that won the 20-Goal America's Cup in Santa Barbara, CA and lost in the finals of the Pacific Coast Open.

There is yet another story of the game of polo in a family.

The three brothers Robert, Edward and Jack Archibald with their cousin Henry belong to a generation who have kept a tradition in the family.

The Coach of the Australian team, Robert Archibald and his brothers are third generation polo players who are proud of their maternal and paternal grandfathers Ken Archibald and Jim Bell.

"My father James Archibald was instrumental in keeping the line of the game intact.

Along with my two younger brothers, Edward, a 4 goal and Jack, a 5 goal and my cousin Henry Bell, we have kept the game close to our hearts.

Having played at the Queens and Gold Cup Tournaments in England, the Deauville Good Cup in France and many high level tournaments in Argentina and also the Chile open, it has been a dream for Robert to be at the ground, the cradle of the Modern Game of Polo.

"My father and grandfathers both played, so I am a third generation polo player.

I started playing when I was 12 years old.

We are all very much excited of being in Manipur.

It is an honour for the boys to be playing here in the oldest and historic living pologround in the world," says Robert.