ISSUE 192

Hundred + 92nd Edition

POLO’S YOUNG HEROES

A legacy can only be carried forward by the new generation of a fraternity. LA POLO chats up with the upcoming legends of the sport who will carry the torch forward.

Polo’s Young Heroes

A legacy can only be carried forward by the new generation of a fraternity. LA POLO chats up with the upcoming legends of the sport who will carry the torch way up and beyond.

The

Heroes we never notice

While the stage of Polo gloriously showcases all the players, there is a group that cheers on from the wings. LA POLO talks to a few members of the “people in the backstage”

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is bound to be truly spectacular!

The RPC Cup nears to an end as teams Rajnigandha Achievers and Rajasthan Polo Club qualify for the finals. This showdown

POLO’S YOUNG HEROES

A legacy can only be carried forward by the new generation of a fraternity. LA POLO chats up with the upcoming legends of the sport who will carry the torch way up and beyond.

Since time immemorial, Polo has exuded a regal charm. It might have to do with the patronage that the sport has enjoyed among the ruling class. The reason for the sport’s popularity, especially among royals, has been linked to the mental and physical challenges involved in the game. In pre-modern times, it was thought of as a simulating past-time for the warrior class that challenged players to rapidly adapt to the everchanging conditions on the field. It was believed that being well-versed in Polo was highly beneficial in fine-tuning a soldier’s cavalry skill, eventually forming part of royal education in many kingdoms. So for centuries, young people have been credited with keeping the legacy of the sport by passing it on from one generation to the next. Though for long it remained the

exclusive stronghold of royal families, the allure of Polo slowly began to spill out into the public domain. With the passage of time, the game has continued to gain a more significant foothold amongst ordinary folks, especially among adventurous youngsters. For these young people, the game’s stunning display of the powerful bond between a player, his/her fellow team players and the

equine partners had a magnetic pull. Every move in the game is an exhilarating display of athleticism and poise.

Polo thrived with the advent of the British in the subcontinent. Its popularity among British soldiers stationed in India shot up exponentially, prompting them to import the game into Britain. From then on, the

Jeeshan Merchant

Dino Dhankar

Ranshay Purohit

sport grew globally. While the sport continued to prosper in several other countries, its prominence in India began to fade with the exit of the British.

Today, many Indians, especially the younger ones, want to reclaim their country’s waning heritage, Polo being an essential part of it. At present, the country boasts 33 Polo Clubs

registered with the Indian Polo Association. Polo and allied equestrian sports have been revived at the erstwhile popular centres, in Udaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, and Hyderabad in Telangana, among others. The sport no longer is the exclusive domain of the Army and has a number of corporate sponsors supporting teams in the domestic circuit. With Polo

once again blossoming in India, it becomes important that we nurture its growth. But like any other sport, it’s necessary to have a system of recognising merit in Polo, to maintain a steady pipeline of young talent. It is only with the infusion of young blood that the sport can continue to withstand the vicissitudes of time. We spoke with four upcoming polo players for their views on the sport.

These are: Dino Dhankar, Ranshay Purohit, Sawar Vijay Pratap and Shivangi Singh.

Singh says: “I grew up on a farm, so I was involved in outdoor sporting activities. It was during one such outing that I came across Polo. A few games in and I began to warm up to the sport. And the rest, as they say, is history.” Dhankar adds: “I have been an avid follower of the sport,

Savir Mehraj Godara

Vijay Pratap Singh

owing to my fascination for Facundo Pieres, a stunning polo champion.” For Purohit, it’s more intimate as the love of Polo runs in his family. He says: “It was my father who’d encouraged me to take it up. His voracious participation in Polo inspires me a lot” Pratap says: “Early on in my Polo career, I received mentorship from some wonderful confidants who enabled me to excel in it.”

From here the conversation progresses to what comes to these players’ mind when they hear the word “polo”. Purohit says: “The first word that pops into my mind is poise, swiftness and athleticism. It’s an elegant way of life.”

Dhankar echoes Purohit: “Yes, I think polo is essentially a way of life. Pondering over your question, apart from that for me, it’ll be the passion for

Dr. Shivaney Singh

Polo that first comes into my mind when you ask about the sport.”

The talk moves onto each of these players’ favourite players, to which Singh says, ‘For me, I think it’ll be Daniel Otemendi. I admire his sense of team play for he always makes it a point that he utilises each of his players’ talents to the team’s advantage.” She adds: “I also look up to him because of his

fantabulous work ethic. He’s known to play two-to-three games, all in the span of a day.” Pratap says: “It’s not one single person but two people that I look up to, the first one is Shamsher Ali, whilst the second one is Basheer Ali, both their games are a delight to watch.”

Singh says: “I like Hazel Jackson the best among women polo players, she’s definitely an epitome of skilled sportsmanship.” For

Purohit, the South African Polo ace, Williamson, is the one he looks up to, “I’ve had the opportunity to play alongside Williamson in South Africa during a tournament. He is an excellent mentor for all young players on the team, you learn a lot just from being around him.”

Each player mentions that they have that one horse that

makes for the perfect collaborator with them on the field. Pratap says: “I prefer this magnificent horse named Grey Boy whose ability to manoeuvre during difficult circumstances is brilliant.” Dhankar says: “For me, it is a little Argentine pony, she is so well-versed with on field conditions that most times it’s she who’s waiting to take on the opposing team before me.”

We asked the players about the signature pose they have when scoring a goal. Both Dhankar and Pratap said they prefer raising high over their horse with the mallet over their shoulder. Purohit says he prefers looking up at the sky, quietly paying obeisance to God.

Are they excited for the upcoming polo season? “Yes,” all of them chime in, with Pratap saying: “Definitely looking to grow myself as a sportsperson this coming season.” Singh adds: “Being able to play with better-experienced players is necessary for helping us to calibrate our own game, so eagerly waiting to get going.”

MANIPUR SANGOL KANGJEI TOURNAMENT COMES TO A CLOSE

Manipur

Chief Minister N Biren Singh launched the first Chief Minister’s Sagol Kangjei Championship (Edition 2022). The tournament was launched with a mission to Save Manipuri Pony and Revive Sagol Kangjei. It was organized to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the local variant of the game and the endangered Manipuri Pony breed. The excitement around the tournament has been palpable given its aim and with a good number of teams participating, competition at the tournament was fierce. After about a week of edge-of-seat thriller matches, curtains finally came down on the 27th of November with Manipur Police Polo Team taking the Cup home this season.

MANIPUR INTERNATIONAL POLO TOURNAMENT

With the tournament seeing greater participation from international players this year, the thrill has been heightened considerably. But what adds to international Polo players’ sense of adventure in Manipur is the completely different conditions they are expected to play in whilst competing in this tournament. Visiting polo players from the United States and the United Kingdom recently said that the condition of the playing fields in Manipur is different from those in Western countries. Jorge Vasquez, captain of the US Polo team, said that the fields are bigger in the US and have more grass which slows down the ball but the grounds are harder in Manipur. On the condition of ponies in the northeastern state, Vasquez said they have a lot of stamina and are very tough. But also all of these players waded in to add that this tournament provided them with an opportunity to fine-tune their skills.

Date Team and Scores

22nd November, 2022 United Kingdom (16) Vs Indian Navy (0)

23rd November, 2022 India A (3) Vs India B (Manipur) (8)

24th November, 2022 USA (13) Vs Indian Navy (6)

24th November, 2022 United Kingdom (9) Vs India A (4)

25th November, 2022 India B (Manipur) (18) Vs Indian Navy (1)

25th November, 2022 UUnited Kingdom (8) Vs USA (3)

26th November, 2022 Indian Navy (2) Vs India A (6)

26th November, 2022 USA (5) Vs India B (Manipur) (9)

27th November, 2022 USA (2) Vs India A (5)

27th November, 2022 United Kingdom (7) Vs India B (Manipur) (8)

29th November, 2022 India B (Manipur) (8) Vs United Kingdom (10)

Manipur Horse Riding & Polo Association

RPC CUP FIRES UP THE JAIPUR POLO SEASON

The Jaipur season has brought us another exuberant tournament filled with vibrant shades of frenzy. The RPC Cup had four out-of-thisworld teams give their all for the trophy. In the finals, it was down to Rajnigandha Achievers and Rajasthan Polo Club to unleash their supremacy and reveal the enigmatic results of this championship. The series ended with Rajnigandha Achievers taking the trophy home.

RAO RAJA HANUT SINGH CUP

The Rao Raja Hanut Singh Cup has received rave reviews. The players had put up their best performances throughout the tournament. In this four-goal tournament, 4 teams participated to have a go at lifting the trophy. It was organised from 17th to 20th November.

Date

17th November

Teams Result

Amyza Polo Vs. RVC 12-4.5

17th November Kara Polo Vs. Navy/Armd Corps/Arty 9-5

18th November (Semi Final) Navy/Armd Corps/Arty Vs. Amyza Polo 6-5

18th November (Semi Final) RVC Vs. Kara Polo 2.5-10

20th November (Final) Armd Corps/ Navy/Arty Vs. Kara Polo 2-9

LaPolo

Asociación Argentina de Polo

THE 129TH ARGENTINE OPEN KEEPS SPECTATORS ENTHRALLED

And that’s a fast approaching close for this tournament! The tournament has been nothing short of exhilarating and has managed to keep the spectators on the edge of their seats throughout, but every riveting experience must come to an end. After a spectacular display of high-quality Polo skills, Saudi Dolphin and The Nativity will square off against each other in the final scheduled for the 2nd of December.

The roster of matches played during the course of the tournament:

Date Teams Result

November 1 The Irenita Grand Champions Vs. The H 14 - 10

November 1 La Ensenada RSMS Vs. Little Irenita G-Squared 20 - 17

November 2 La Ensenada RSMS Vs. Little Irenita G-Squared 5 - 7

November 2 Saudi Dolphin Vs. The Corner 14-13

November 5 La Ensenada RSMS Vs. The H 19- 12

November 5 The Nativity Vs. Little Irenita G-Squared 23 - 12

November 6 Breed La Dolfina Vs. The Corner 9 - 5

November 6 Ellerstina Vs. Irenita Clinova 16 - 8

November 12 The Irenita Grand Champions Vs. La Ensenada RS MS 13 - 11

November 12 The Nativity Vs.The H 21 - 5

November 13 Saudi Dolphin Vs. Breed La Dolfina 10 - 6

November 13 EllerstinaVs. The Corner 19 - 7

November 19 The Nativity Vs. La Ensenada RS MS 19 - 12

November 19 The Irenita Grand Champions Vs. Little Irenita G-Squared 15 - 9

November 20 Saudi Dolphin Vs. Irenita Clinova 2. 3. 4

November 20 Ellerstina Vs. Breed La Dolfina 8 - 9

November 25 Little Irenita G-Squared Vs.The H 11 - 13

November 25 The Nativity Vs. The Irenita Grand Champions 15 - 14

November 27 The Corner Vs. Irenita Clinova 8 - 14

November 27 Ellerstina Vs. Saudi Dolphin 14 - 15

December 2 La Natividad vs La Dolfina 9 - 13

VEUVE CLICQUOT POLO BRUNCH SERIES

Official website of The Veuve Clicquot Polo Brunch Series

With a string of memorable events behind them, Veuve Clicquot has brought back their Polo Brunch Series. Scheduled over two weekends at Val de Vie Estate, these Solaire brunches offer gourmet dining and prime polo viewing. As you sit back soaking up the warm rays of sunshine, gear up for some edge-of-the-seat polo matches at what is arguably one of the globe’s most stunning equestrian estates. Nestled in the backdrop of dramatic Drakenstein and Simonsberg mountain ranges in the Paarl-Franschhoek wine valley, Val de Vie is primed for a day of polo. Bringing together some of the best of the sport will give guests an opportunity to raise together glasses to the athleticism and poise of Polo talent. The Veuve Clicquot Polo Brunch Series takes place between 27th November and 11th December 2022.

DUNDAS CLAIMED THE PINK POLO CUP IN ARGENTINA

The final of the third edition of the Pink Polo Cup Argentina took place on November 26, as a part of the finals played at Thai Polo Club Argentina. The ladies’ polo tournament saw six teams participating. The awards presentation was held after the finals followed by a fantastic closing party that had the band, Sin Ensayo, playing for all the guests. With regards to the games, two international teams, UAE and Dundas, met up to play the championship match, led by two women who already clashed in other finals throughout the spring polo season in Argentina. Nina Clarkin commanded Dundas from the back, supported by the goals produced by Mia Cambiaso and two powerful forwarders, Sarah Siegel-Magnes and Cuyi Glenny. Such a fierce foursome claimed a 5-4 win over UAE, which had no less than Sheikha Maitha playing the tournament for the first time ever.

The Heroes we never notice

While the stage of Polo gloriously showcases all the players, there is a group that cheers on from the wings. Their work, although appreciated, is not always well recognized. LA POLO talks to a few members of the “people in the backstage”.

In every Polo match, we all admire and root for the players, the teams, even the horses! But, just like in the creation of every great thing, there are people behindthe-scenes we don’t know much about. People who have given their days and lives to this game. So personally and deeply connected to the game, yet hidden behind the curtains. Their stories of dedication, loyalty towards the sport, and perseverance are motivating and inspiring.

SANGRAM SINGH SHEKHAWAT

The caretaker of the horses of Mr. Vikram Rathore, Shekhawat Ji has been into horse care for almost 15 years. “I entered this field out of curiosity. I always felt an attachment towards horses. My mother’s brother was in this field and I entered this world through him. He even taught me how to ride a horse. Soon, my hobby turned into my job.”

Shekhawat claims to have had a great experience with horses since he began his journey in 2007. He set foot in this world out of sheer thirst for knowledge about the equine species and ended up growing so attached that there was no going back. His unyielding mindset contradicts with the gentle way he prefers to handle the horses. His antidote for a freaked out horse is patience. “With out-of-control horses, you have to give them time, 2-3 years even. It’s also a good idea to check their diets. When you continuously

try to create a bond with them, they slowly calm down.”

Shekhawat now has the duty to not only look after the horses, but also teach his subordinates about horse riding and practices to follow while taking care of a horse.

DASHRAT SINGH RAJAWAT

Starting his career as a horse groom 20 years back, Rajawat has progressed in his profession and now handles the responsibility of a horse rider of Sunny Patel. Even after devoting 20 years of his life to this livelihood, if you had asked Dashrat those two decades back, he probably would not have classified a career in horses as his purpose. “Whatever I have learned about horses, I have learned on the job.” When it comes to the games, Dashrat has a mellow approach towards the outcome. “If the horses are competent and wellequipped, then I have done all I can for the game. There is no point in stressing out. Tense situations only arise when you are not very sure about the ponies that are playing on the field,” he says. His laid-back attitude paired with confidence and a sure hand on the horses reflects that he is truly an expert at his job.

DILIP NAYAK

Notably the most tenderfoot in the lot, Dilip Nayak has been a groom of Vikram Rathore’s horses for about 6 years. An immigrant from Bali, Nayak’s ambition is to one day take his skills to a foreign country. “It has been an amazing journey, I have had a lot of fun and I have become well-versed with the ways of horses. I especially love the Polo game days, particularly when we win.”

His love of watching Polo games is equivalent to his love of horses. He follows the motto: “If you maintain a relaxed attitude, your horses will be composed as well.” He has a very pragmatic approach towards the games and knows you can’t win every war. “We can’t expect that the team would win every

match. That is impossible, but we are also certain that such amazing and hardworking teams won’t have many losses written in their fortunes either.”

CHAIN SINGH

With his family being a part of the industry for as long as he can remember, Singh grew up hearing about horses. While he would study, or go about his regular business, he would simultaneously pick up on the horse-talk his family would indulge in. Despite the familiarity and theoretical knowledge, when he started this profession, Chain was not used to being in close proximity to a horse. “When I started, I was pretty scared. It took me 10-15

days to even go near a horse. After that, slowly, I started overcoming my fears. Now, I am not afraid of them at all. To me, they are now the same as the small animals in my village. I love horses and I now view them as my buddies.”

Singh has recently finished 17 successful years at the post of NCU in the 61st Cavalry. His personal style of treating the horses is to shower them with love and patience, but also being strict when the horse misbehaves. Especially during a game, he believes, when the stakes and pressure is high, it’s necessary for the horse’s groom to portray a calm attitude. If you freak out, the horse is bound to change its behavior as well.

“Right when I was posted here, I started to stay around the Polo players. I have spent the past 17 years near these players, and it fills my heart with sheer joy to witness how much they are progressing.”

ALL-WOMEN WIN AT FEI AWARDS 2022

Women ruled the night of 13 November 2022, as during the FEI Awards Gala 2022 all the wins went to women. Alice Casburn was awarded the Longines FEI Rising Star Award. The Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Awards went to The British Rider, Charlotte Fry. Kerryn Edmans took home this year’s Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award for grooming New Zealand’s Tim and Jonelle Price. And the FEI Against All Odds befittingly went to Kenyan showjumper Muthoni Kimani, who overcame her trauma after being hit by a car while riding her horse.

UAE NATIONAL FAMILY POLO DAY 2022

The Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club will celebrate the UAE National Day with a tribute to Polo. On 3 December 2022, the club will be open to all families. Fun activities like Horse Archery competition, barbeque counters, Pony rides and kids play stations will fill the place.

WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

Wellington International is bringing back its annual Winter Equestrian Festival. The festival will begin on 4 January 2023 and will last til 2 April 2023. It will be packed with exciting equine competitions and events.

LATE QUEEN ELIZABETH II’S MINIATURE STATUE AUCTIONED FOR 6 FIGURES

Abronze statue of the Late Queen Elizabeth II with a Mare and Foal by Etienne Millner and Charlie Langton raised 6-figures as it was sold to Jamie McCalmont on behalf of Hong Kong based Mark Chan. The auction went down on 28 November 2022. The proceedings of 165,000 guineas will all go to The National Horseracing Museum.

CROWN RIBBON IS BRINGING THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY TO THE NFT ARENA

According to Decrypt, “Crown Ribbon enables users to buy and own NFT shares of a racehorse syndicate that maps to a specific horse, or to a collection of horses.” The vast horse industry, which is currently relying on traditional means for horse ownership, will be totally shaken up with the new blockchain business.

Roaring Innovation

Track the latest DeLorean Alpha E5 that pushed the benchmark in eco-friendly car designing.

The electric car manufacturing industry is experiencing its moment of renaissance. With ultra-modern, sophisticated batteries and increasing government support, electric automakers have better incentives than ever before to design, develop and manufacture state-of-theart automobiles for 21st century requirements.

Worldwide, 6.6 million plugin electric cars were sold in 2021, more than double the 2020 sales numbers. Allelectric cars represented 71% of plug-in car sales in 2021. As of December 2021, 16 million plug-in electric cars were on the roads globally. These eye-popping numbers are drawing an increasing number of iconic brands to get into the segment.

DeLorean Alpha5 is the latest addition to the group.

DELOREAN MOTOR COMPANY

The DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) was an American automobile manufacturer founded by General Motors executive John DeLorean in 1975. The automaker describes itself as a new energy mobility brand that focuses on developing cars with a clear vision of the future. It is remembered for one of the most iconic, futuristic cars of its time—the stainless steel DeLorean sports car featuring gullwing doors. But the lack of consumer demand, cost overruns, and unfavorable exchange rates began

denting DMC’s cash flow position in the latter half of 1981. This eventually culminated with the company having to wind up manufacturing and file for bankruptcy in 1982. In 1995, Liverpool-born mechanic

Stephen Wynne founded the current DeLorean Motor Company in Texas, and thereafter acquired the remaining parts inventory going on to launch a stylized DMC logo trademark of DeLorean Motor Company.

ALPHA E5

The brand now seems poised for a spectacular comeback. DeLorean released details of its upcoming launch with hopes of resurrecting the long-defunct brand.

The latest DeLorean Alpha E5 shares an intimate component with its predecessors that has become quintessentially associated with the DeLorean brand: the gull-winged, two-door frame. The new car also comes with a curvier, sleekier upgrade to the exterior silhouette. Says designer Daria Lauriola: “The renowned design heritage has been a perfect inspiration for inputs.” It was designed in collaboration with Italdesign, the same Volkswagen-owned design team that helped in developing the look of the DMC-12 in 1981.

“Our goal was to bridge the gap between the past and the future,

so we produced extensions of the DMC-12 that would have been icons in their time to create the next generation of vehicles, starting with the Alpha5,” said Joost de Vries, chief executive officer of DeLorean Motors Reimagined in a press release. It also

comes with an elegant full-width light strip on the back, and an illuminated DeLorean logo.

The Port San Antonio-based automaker claims that the car will have a pick-up speed of 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97

km/h) in 2.99 seconds, 0 to 88 mph (0 to 142 km/h) in an estimated 4.35 seconds and have a projected top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h). The Alpha 5 would come with a 100kWh battery, offering an estimated 300 miles of range. Joost de Vries says he expects the Alpha5 to have a performance range that will be in the ballpark of the Mercedes-AMG GT and maybe the higher-end Porsche Taycans.

There hasn’t been much clarity on the pricing tiers but estimates suggest that it might cost approximately $125,000. According to the company, the first batch of production will introduce 9,531 units into the market, with manufacturing expected to begin in 2024.