ISSUE 193

TRADITIONAL MANIPUR POLO

As The Manipur Season draws to a close, LA POLO chats up with Chinglesana Oinam from the All Manipur Polo Association to talk about the Traditional Manipuri Polo and the tales behind it.

As The Manipur Season draws to a close, LA POLO chats up with Chinglesana Oinam from the All Manipur Polo Association to talk about the Traditional Manipuri Polo and the tales behind it.

Equine Brushstrokes

Many renowned artists have been inspired to create masterpieces with horses that are symbols of strength and valour. Let’s have a glimpse into this niche art segment.

Traditional Manipur Polo Aboard The Orient Express

French hospitality group Accor plans to restore the original luxury convoy, the Orient Express. On final call, some of the original Lalique glass panels, the Morrison and Nelson marquetry, and the Art Deco details will be restored to keep to the original design as fast as possible.

The first tournament of The Jodhpur Polo Season, The Umaid Bhawan Palace Cup was filled with a unique set of matches that were unmissable. The Trophy was ultimately lifted by Team Umaid Bhawan Palace.

TRADITIONAL MANIPUR POLO

As The Manipur Season draws to a close, LA POLO chats up with Chinglesana Oinam from the All Manipur Polo Association to talk about the Traditional Manipuri Polo and the tales behind it.

All Manipur Polo Association

After two years of hiatus, Polo enthusiasts are once again in for a treat. While older, prestigious tournaments continue to remain the staple, newer, electrifying tournaments are spicing up the sport. The recently concluded Chief Minister’s Sagol Kangjei Championship was organised with the aim to revive this indigenous Manipuri version of Polo. The tournament was flagged off by the Chief Minister of Manipur, Mr N Biren Singh, who has ardently

backed the initiative. During the course of the tournament that ran from November 18- 27, viewers witnessed a completely different side of the sport. Being an incredibly old variant of the sport, it showcased the powerful bond between a player, his fellow team players and their equine partners. Every move in the game is an exhilarating display of athleticism and poise, richly imbued with local cultural elements. To paint a better

All Manipur

Polo Association

picture of Sagol Kangjei’s legacy, we sat down with Chinglesana Oinam for a candid chat.

HISTORY OF SAGOL KANGJEI IN MANIPUR

This variant of the sport first came to be known during the Kangleipak reign. One of the kings of the dynasty, Kangba, was an ardent follower of the sport. He conferred a Sagei (clan) “Kangujam”, to those people who were very skillful in the art of designing “Kangjei”, a hockey stick. Sagol Kangjei was considered as one of the three forms of hockey in Manipur, the others being field hockey (khong kangjei) and wrestling hockey (mukna kangjei). Local rituals such as those connected to the “Ibudhou Marjing: the winged-pony god of polo” and the Lai Haraoba festival enacting the life of his son, “Khoriphaba: the poloplaying god of sports”, were included in the annual cultural celebrations. Asked if folklore undergirds the tale of Sagol Kangjei, Oinam

All Manipur Polo Association

says: “There is a belief held among locals that Lord Marjing has been the ruler of the pony since the time of yore. There is an account that when King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (33 AD) introduced his queen Laisana to his friends on the first Saturday of the month of Lamta, the game of Sagol Kangjei was first played. It has since been the national game of Meitrabak (Manipur).” Its prominence began to fade a little in the second half of the 1st millennium, but rebounded in 1605, during the reign of King Khagemba under newly

framed rules. However, it was the first Mughal emperor, Babur, who popularised the sport in India that ultimately influenced British settlers in India.

STYLE OF COMPETING: MANIPURI SAGOL KANGJEI

The Sagol Kangjei, according to Oinam, is a subtle reflection of Manipur’s culture. “Traditionally, Manipuri polo is played with seven players. Ponies are usually 4 to 5 feet in height. Each player is fitted with a polo stick made of cane

All Manipur Polo Association

having a narrow angled wooden head fixed at the lower end. The ball–14 inches in circumference–is made of bamboo root, the mounted players gallop after the ball to hit it straight into the seven-ft wide goal post.” He adds: “Sagol Kangjei is more vigorous and boisterous in comparison to the genteel, restrained Modern Polo.”

The sporting attire is different too. All the players wear a white dhoti, which is tucked in above their knees and a big white turban, which is held by a

khadangchet, a chin strap. Usually, no footwear is worn and the ankles are covered by khunningkhang which is a piece of leather cloth. Sagol Kangjei rides on the back of an indigenous breed of horse, the Manipuri ponies. These horses are descendants of the Asian wild horse, and have been recognised as one of the five indigenous horse breeds of India; the others being Marwari, Kathiawari, Zanskari and Spiti. Slightly shorter than the other breeds, the Manipuri pony is known for its stamina, speed and ability to survive harsh

All Manipur Polo Association

weather. Oinam says: “So well-known is their hardwearing quality that Sagol warriors who defended the kingdom of Manipur for centuries completely relied on these horses to successfully defend their territories.”

DECLINE OF SAGOL KANJEI

Manipuri horses’ availability had declined due to the invasion of Manipur by the Burmese. The Seven Years’ Devastation (called “Chahi Taret Khuntakpa’’ in Manipur) was a dark period

in the history of modern Manipur, during which the state was occupied by the Burmese empire, and was a period of intense chaos and mayhem. The Burmese captured thousands of horses for their army’s cavalry units and shipped them off to Thailand, to invade that country. Several of those horses perished at the time. This resulted in a poignant decline of the game of Sagol Kanjei in Manipur. The other main reason for the decline, according to Oinam, was the rapid adoption of Modern Polo among locals.

All Manipur Polo Association

A SHOT AT REVIVAL

Today, with greater enthusiasm amongst young Indians to rediscover their country’s vibrant heritage, Polo is slowly, but steadily getting back into prominence. It is to make complete use of the opportunity that the All Manipur Polo Association organised the 1st Chief Minister’s Sagol Kangjei Championship this year.

Chief Minister Singh echoed the tournament’s mission statement to preserve the Sagol Kangjei variant of Polo: “We need to protect Sagol Kangjei since it is indigenous to our culture in Manipur.” To keep the

momentum alive, he also proposed to the organisers to rename the All Manipur Polo Association as the All Manipur Sagol Kangjei Association alongside creating a corpus fund to organise the tournament every year. Joining him was Rajya Sabha MP, Maharaja Leisemba Sanajaoba, who said: “Organising the 1st Chief Minister’s Sagol Kan gjei Championship also gives us an opportunity to save Manipuri ponies, and ensure their survival.” And, considering Manipur’s significance in the domestic circuit, it becomes all the more important that we carefully nurture its growth. But that requires communities that are intimately aware of Sagol Kangjei’s roots. Oinam says: “It is related to our history and culture, so I would definitely like to see this variant popularised. Preserving this rare species of pony and our state game, the indigenous game of Sagol Kangjei, should be approached on a war footing to ensure its survival.”

All Manipur Polo Association

YOUNGEST PLAYER, HIGHEST HANDICAP

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL CUP 2022

Sir Winston Churchill Cup 2022 kickstarted on 10 December, 2022. The 8-10 goal tournament will end on the 18th of December, 2022. The first match of the tournament will be played between teams Bin Drai Polo and El Basha Polo.

Poroto

Cambiaso became the youngest player to have the highest Polo handicap. Cambiaso, at the age of 17 years and 11 days, had a handicap change from 9 to 10. He was also a part of Team La Dolfina, which won the 129th Argentine Open 2022 at Palermo. The Handicap changes were released on December 7 2022 by the Argentine Association of Polo. Changes were also observed in the handicaps of some other players. These changes will be effective from January

POLO

Polo player Delmer Walton of Blackville passed away in The Aiken County on December 3, 2022. He was the victim of an accident, as stated by the Aiken County Coroner’s Office. Mr Walton was a beloved third generation professional Polo player, and the owner of Walton Farm Polo, a breeding and training business in Blackville. He is survived by his wife Tessa, three young sons, his parents, step-father and his sister.

UAE National Day

O

STERNHAGEN BHAVNAGAR POLO TROPHY

The last tournament of the Jaipur season was filled with fiery battles between teams Rajnigandha Achievers, Krishna Polo, Bedla Chandna Polo and Carysil Polo. The thrilling matches even witnessed a draw in which the golden goal rule was applied. Ultimately, Team Carysil Polo lifted the trophy.

Date Teams and Scores

8th December 2022 Rajnigandha Achievers (6) Vs Krishna Polo ((5)

8th December 2022 Bedla Chandna Polo (7) Vs Crysil Polo (4 ½ )

9th December 2022 Carysil Polo (7 ½ ) Vs Rajnigandha Achievers (5)

9th December 2022 Bedla Chandna (6) Vs Krishna Polo (5)

11th December 2022 Carysil Polo (5 ½ ) Vs Bedla Chanda Polo (5)

MATHURA DAS MATHUR MEMORIAL CUP

The first exhibition match of The Jodhpur season was blessed with the attendance of HH Maharaja Gaj Singh Ji of Jodhpur. The match was played between teams Bharat 24 and Suhana and was truly a unique event. Both the teams delivered extraordinary swings. In the second half of the game, Team Bharat 24 stepped up their game and came up victorious with a score of 9 goals to 5.

UMAID BHAWAN PALACE CUP (4 GOALS)

The first tournament of The Jodhpur Season was filled with glory and wrath as four teams Black Bucks, Balsamand, Mayo College and Umaid Bhawan Palace fought for the winning title. It came down to teams Mayo College and Umaid Bhawan Palace in the end. With their exemplary skills, the latter team took the Trophy home.

Date Teams

6th December, 2022 Black Bucks (15) VS Balsamand (11)

7th December 2022 Balsamand (4 ½ ) Vs Mayo College (14)

7th December 2022 Umaid Bhawan Palace (16) Vs Indian Navy (8)

8th December 2022 Black Bucks (9) Vs Mayo College (10)

8th December 2022 Umaid Bhawan Palace (10) Vs Indian Navy (3)

9th December 2022 Mayo College (9) Vs Umaid Bhawan Palace (13)

Equine Brushstrokes

Many renowned artists have been inspired to create masterpieces with horses that are symbols of strength and valour. Let’s take a glimpse into this niche art segment.

The history of equine art dates back to thousands of years, when horseback riding, carriage rides, and wars were commonplace. It can be traced back to the cave paintings in Ancient Egypt and Classical Greece, which were symbolic of the owner’s wealth, power, and patronage. In Greece, horse drawings were made in geometric patterns. Romanticism in the 18th and

19th centuries heightened interest in equine art. The beauty of paintings by Paolo Uccello, Benozzo Gozzoli and Leonardo da Vinci enchanted viewers, who were charmed by the combination of dark and light brush strokes highlighting different shades of brown. English painter George Stubbs and American artist Franklin Voss captured the rider sitting on the horseback and gazing out at the vast lands

An artist’s work gives a glimpse of his/her thinking through the colours, structures, smooth lines, and stern planes. George Stubbs’ Whistlejacket is perhaps the most well-known painting in equine art. Napoleon, known for his vigor, authority, and leadership, could be seen in action in the command over the horse and the bond he shared with his horse. Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian painter, began his

art studies at the age of 30 and expressed through colourful shapes, molded together with finesse, adding to the richness of his designs.

A painter creates while a photographer exposes. When Eadweard Muybridge’s prints were viewed, they confirmed for the first time that when a horse runs, all four legs are off the ground at the same time. They also

demonstrated that the popular depiction of a racehorse in motion with both front and back legs outstretched at the same time was grossly inaccurate.

CONTEMPORARY EQUINE ART

Many modern painters and artists have captured the beauty of equine art, highlighting its majestic, dangerous, thrilling essence combined with a soft vulnerability, deconstructing movements, simplifying the shapes, and identifying the dynamism involved in the game. French artist Marie Ackers’ ideas of art are instilled with clear-cut designs highlighting the bodily shapes and structures of the animal, using a single colour.

Giulia Vesentini, master mosaicist, casts a bright glow from sun rays, together with

unique, edgy horse forms. Haitz de Diego from Spain brings any painting to life with his master strokes. His paintings stand out due to their relatability and originality, transporting viewers to open fields surrounded by greenery, with the horses running to and fro, hair whipping in the wind, bodies moving fast, making cutting noises in the air.

The Equestrian Artists’ Society recently organized its annual exhibition, which featured equisterian paintings from the 18th and the 19th centuries. The paintings by Sam Sallet, 1966, and Gean Bowman,

1980, showcased equine art trends.

Lee Sung-Kun, famous South Korean artist, says: “Horses are a symbol of bravery, freedom, speed, endurance, and strength. My horses represent Vietnam’s spirit and strong will, which is, always looking forward.”

Max Ernst’s Horse and Cow painting from 1919, discovered at Art Basel, captures the overall terrain, with floating houses and trees in the background, through a cartoonish style.

Michael Borremans’ The Horse, 2015, and Zeno X Gallery, Horse by Yinizar, 2015 are other examples of contemporary equine art. Hyderabad’s Kalakriti Society’s exhibition titled “Where did the horses go?” showcased a mixture of contemporary and ancient equine designs. Diptish Ghosh Dastidar’s painting, dated 2006, presented an illusionary image of a horse standing on the screen. Vasundhara Tewari Broota’s drawings, with light strokes of brush, interpret the surreal mixing of colours, a painfully alluring blend. Horses represent a culture associated with power, freedom, valour, and strong focus. The artworld will continue to remain mesmerised with the equine world.

EQUESTRIAN SPORTS GAINING NEW HEIGHTS IN OMAN

The ministry of culture, sports and youth of Oman organized The Oman Equestrian festival, beginning from 7th December, 2022 at Al Rahba racecourse in Barkha. The activities at the First edition of the festival included horse racing, show jumping, tent pegging and endurance race in addition to the traditional horse race ‘Al Arza’. The festival marks the first attempt to bring all equestrian sports under a single event, highlighting the growing interest of Oman government to raise the level of equestrian sport in the country.

SUE-ELLEN LOVETT LAUNCHES NEW BOOK ‘JOHNO AND THE BLIND CHICK’

Sue-Ellen Lovett is an Australian para-equestrian who was diagnosed with the hereditary condition retinitis pigmentosa at the age of 12. She was later diagnosed with cervical cancer and is now completely blind.She launched her third book ‘Johno and The blind chick’at Dubbo Regional Library.The book is based on her ideology that vision is more than seeing and explores the bond shared between the horse and the rider.

FEI WIDENS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEMALE EQUESTRIANS

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports’ teleconfer ence held on 6th December 2022 brought good news for the female equestrians. The FEI made changes to its current maternity leave mecha nism to introduce flexibility and give athletes the option to take leave as per their need. The previous mater nity leave period was 6 months (min imum) and 12 months (maximum). However, after hearing the opinion of the athletic community, the board has decided to shorten it to 3 months. The reduced period will allow the female equestrians to return to the game as soon as they wish.

Paralympic equestrian Sue-Ellen Lovett launches new autobiography

Mudgee Guardian

Mudgee, NSW

ENDO, A BLIND APPALOOSA HORSE CREATES THREE WORLD RECORDS

Endo, a 22 year old Appaloosa, also known as ‘Endo the blind’ was diagnosed with recurrent uveitis, often known as moon blindness at the age of 8. However, with love and support from the family and the owner, he soon recovered and became the national champion at the highest level. Endo, on October 29, along with his owner Morgan Wagner made new Guinness records that include highest free jump by a blind horse, most flying changes by a horse in one minute and fastest time for a blind horse to weave five poles.

DATES ANNOUNCED FOR DUBLIN HORSE SHOW

The 148th Dublin horse show will take place in the RDS from August 9-13 in 2023. With a variety of events taking place over five days, from the best show horses to the top international show jumpers, Dublin horse show is a celebration of Ireland’s affection for horses.

Aboard the Orient Express

French hospitality group Accor plans to restore the original luxury convoy, the Orient Express. On final call, some of the original Lalique glass panels, the Morrison and Nelson marquetry, and the Art Deco details will be restored to keep to the original design as fast as possible.

On the Orient Express. The plot of the novel follows the discovery o les Poirot. While the major thread running through the novel is reminiscent of Christie’s classic thriller genre, an aspect that makes it stand out from her other novels is its uncharacteristically intricate descriptions of the scene of the crime, the opulently decked train. The opening chapters of the novel take the readers through a stunning description of the regal interiors of the passenger train. These interior designs portray an exquisite blend of 1920s aesthetics with contemporary styles. The fastidious attention paid to elements adorned with ornamental detail culminates into a tasteful piece of art.

A tour d’horizon of the magnificent Orient express.

You might recall the iconic Orient Express from author Agatha Christie’s eponymous thriller The Murder

HISTORY OF THE ORIENT EXPRESS

On a bright spring day in June 1883, the first Express d’Orient left Paris for Vienna. Vienna remained the terminus until October 1883, post which the train was officially renamed the Orient Express. Throughout its operation, the long-distance passenger train services were repeatedly disrupted due to multiple geopolitical stalemates

among the countries through which it ran. For instance, at the height of both the First World War and Second World War, the Orient Express services had to be indefinitely terminated owing to untenable battlefield conflict, and it wasn’t resumed until the cessation of hostilities. Despite these setbacks, the Orient Express continued to thrive during peacetime. The 1930s saw the Orient Express services reaching its zenith in terms of popularity, with three parallel services running alongside

each other: the Orient Express, the Simplon Orient Express, and also the Arlberg Orient Express, which ran via Zürich and Innsbruck to Budapest, with sleeper cars running onwards from there to Bucharest and Athens. During this time, the Orient Express acquired a stellar reputation for its comfort and cuisine. It counted among its patrons

the royalty, aristocracy, and the bourgeoisie in general among others.

But with the arrival of convenient, ultra-modern means of transport, the Orient Express slowly began to lose its sheen, with services finally winding up in late 2010.

REVIVAL OF THE ORIENT EXPRESS

The French hospitality group, Accor, which holds a 50 per cent stake in the Orient Express brand, has announced that it plans to restore the original luxury convoy. It is believed that the services will start in 2024. The route of travel will follow the original trail, beginning from Paris and terminating in Istanbul, crisscrossing the entirety of Europe along the way.

For initiating the restoration process, Accor hired industrial historian Arthur Mettatal to hunt down the original carriages that had been taken off the grid after the services wound up. After much research, he and his team finally located the abandoned carriages in a deserted steppe on the border between Poland and Belarus. This expedition was undertaken with the aim to retain as much of the original elements as possible and so it was felt that procuring these carriages might aid the cause. “We were

expecting them to be in terrible condition, but inside they were surprisingly well-preserved,” recounts a member of the team. “Some of them still had the original Lalique glass panels that were so emblematic of the Orient Express. We also found Morrison and Nelson marquetry,” which are intricate wood carvings with inlays of precious materials like gold or ebony. “The Art Deco details were just incredibly vibrant,” he says.

It is believed that the project will be completely redone in the tradition of the iconic French craftsmanship style. Accor for this purpose has collaborated with French architect Maxime D’Angeac. The architectural designer is known for some of his most illustrious pieces of work, produced in partnership with French fashion houses. He was tasked with an ostensibly simple assignment: to bring out the best of French artisanal excellence.

To achieve that, he approached the problem in two different ways: “I had to respect two key elements in this formidable project,” he says. “Extending the spirit of innovation that characterised the original train and reinventing the concept of comfort and luxury for the 21st century.” Operating within that strict framework, the carriage cars have been designed to incorporate the original intricate works.

For railway aficionados, the official website of the Orient Express now offers a compressive online tour of the train’s interiors that will give a peek into what one could expect from the project once completed.