Mount Abu
Polo the elite game
I did go down for the finals of the polo match played in the heart of the city at the Trevor's Oval . This year the organizing committee had done an exceptionally well planned endeavor, striking invitation card were handed to VIP’s, the field was in a much better shape and the games drew spectators from all walks of life. The Games opened with pomp and show.
The name polo is said to have been derived from the Tibetian word "pulu", meaning ball. It is now generally accepted that modern Polo originated in Manipur. In Manipur the game was played in villages, with few rules and the number of players limited only by the number of horses available. Long, narrow lanes were usually used for a field. Players protected their legs by attaching leather shields to their saddles and girths. This game was considered by the nomads as the supreme test of courage and horsemanship. British soldiers and planters who witnessed the game played by Manipuri tribesmen imported the game to UK in the 1860s. The English, modified the rules and made it popular around the world
The outdoor game consists of six 7 minute chukkers, during which players may change mounts. There is a four minute interval between chukkers and a ten minute halftime. Play is continuous and is only stopped for penalties, broken tack or injury to horse or player. The object is to score goals by hitting the ball between the goal posts, no matter how high in the air. If the ball goes wide of the goal, the defending team is allowed a free 'knock-in' from the place where the ball crossed the goal line, thus getting the ball back into play.
This year there was a mishap in the second day’s play. One horse broke its leg and had to putdown, for which the animal activists wanted to take up the cause and make an issue of it. The news paper did make a mention of it. The storm that was brewing in the tea cup blew over with the games concluding on the 15/4/07.
Polo has been revived in Abu to attract tourists and to make it more popular. Another sport that’s on the agenda is going to be Golf. Golf was played in Abu till the early sixties, and then just faded away. A snap of the old golf building.
I did go down for the finals of the polo match played in the heart of the city at the Trevor's Oval . This year the organizing committee had done an exceptionally well planned endeavor, striking invitation card were handed to VIP’s, the field was in a much better shape and the games drew spectators from all walks of life. The Games opened with pomp and show.
The name polo is said to have been derived from the Tibetian word "pulu", meaning ball. It is now generally accepted that modern Polo originated in Manipur. In Manipur the game was played in villages, with few rules and the number of players limited only by the number of horses available. Long, narrow lanes were usually used for a field. Players protected their legs by attaching leather shields to their saddles and girths. This game was considered by the nomads as the supreme test of courage and horsemanship. British soldiers and planters who witnessed the game played by Manipuri tribesmen imported the game to UK in the 1860s. The English, modified the rules and made it popular around the world
The outdoor game consists of six 7 minute chukkers, during which players may change mounts. There is a four minute interval between chukkers and a ten minute halftime. Play is continuous and is only stopped for penalties, broken tack or injury to horse or player. The object is to score goals by hitting the ball between the goal posts, no matter how high in the air. If the ball goes wide of the goal, the defending team is allowed a free 'knock-in' from the place where the ball crossed the goal line, thus getting the ball back into play.
This year there was a mishap in the second day’s play. One horse broke its leg and had to putdown, for which the animal activists wanted to take up the cause and make an issue of it. The news paper did make a mention of it. The storm that was brewing in the tea cup blew over with the games concluding on the 15/4/07.
Polo has been revived in Abu to attract tourists and to make it more popular. Another sport that’s on the agenda is going to be Golf. Golf was played in Abu till the early sixties, and then just faded away. A snap of the old golf building.
The Rajputana Golf Club
Spectators
Game in full swing
Whew,this post almost got my goat after umpteen attempts I finally managed to upload only a few snaps
