Chandigarh to host two official seasons of Indian Polo Association

2024-10-11

Chandigarh to host two official seasons of Indian Polo Association,

Internationally renowned players including defence teams will participate in December and April

Chandigarh, Chandigarh Polo Association (CPA) under the aegis of nationwide polo governing body Indian Polo Association (IPA), will host two official seasons of IPA from December 1 to December 7 and from March 30 to April 5. Several Defence teams and national teams with international exposure will participate in these events at Chandigarh Polo Club at Khudda Ali Lahora.

Addressing a press conference organized at Chandigarh Press Club on Friday, CPA’s President Dilpreet Singh Sidhu said that IPA recognized Chandigarh Polo Club in the year 2024 to make Chandigarh a polo destination. Polo game has been played in India since 1956 in various cities including Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur. Polo tournaments in these cities are recognized by IPA at the national level. Now these events will also give recognition to Chandigarh as a polo destination. Sidhu informed that five defence teams from across the country, including 61 Cavalry, Artillery, ASC, RVS, Navy Polo, will participate in these events. Other prestigious national teams with international exposure will also compete for the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Arena Polo Trophy during the season.

Present on the occasion, Col. Manoj Dewan, Secretary General informed that Chandigarh Polo Club was established in the year 2020-21 and since then the club and the sport have made remarkable progress in Chandigarh with world-class infrastructure. During the G20 Summit in January 2023, delegates from 35 countries came to Chandigarh and hosted the G20 delegates at the IRB campus to watch a mega exhibition arena polo match organized by the Polo Club. Thereafter, in February 2023, CPC organized two major Arena Polo tournaments in collaboration with Chandigarh Police at the IRB campus. These events were led by the Chandigarh Polo Club promoters/ polo players of the city and the Chandigarh Police DGP.

Shedding light on the format of the game, Deepak Waliya, Executive Member said that the club offers world standard facilities for Arena Polo. It is a shorter format of polo which increases the understanding and reach of the game to the spectators. Arena Polo has proven to be more spectator friendly, easier to understand and safer for the youth to get into. The game has three-member teams playing on a smaller board field. It requires fewer polo horses to play. Overall, it is more attractive and accessible to the new spectators and players in the country.

A special Ladies Polo match will also be organized during the Arena Polo season in December 2024. Polo being a unisex sport, offers the freedom to cater both the categories. Young polo players from across the country have also been invited to the event for Under 21 tournament.

Also present on the occasion includes Joint Secretary Mehtab Singh Gill, Treasurer Navjit Sandhu, Executive member Brig Sandeep Singh Kashyap, core member Sia Chawla and other members of the association.