Sixth Intl Polo meet begins in Imphal
feature, State 04:05
The Polo International is organized by the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association and is participated by four international teams and two Indian teams.
The first match of the polo international was played between India (B) comprising of only Manipuri players and the team from England which the former won by 14-5.
The inaugural function was also attended by Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister Govindas Konthoujam, MP Dr Th Meinya, MP Thangso Baite, Hurlingham Polo Association chairman, Nicholas Denvers as president and guests of honour respectively.
Meanwhile, speaking at the inaugural function, the state Dy CM welcomed the foreign players and their families and Indian Players in to the oldest pologround of the world- the Mapal Kangjeibung.
“Sagol Kangjei, that is Polo, is one of the cultural heritages of the people of Manipur, which has spread all over the world as a competitive sport. The game is now played in all the continents of the world.”
“In Manipur, Polo or Sagol Kangjei, has been a common man's game during our ancient past and even during the colonial days. Today however the game is now becoming an urban sport.”
He continued that the government of Manipur has allotted 30 acres of land for the integrated development of polo in the greater Imphal area.
The Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association is also running a pony breeding farm under government sponsorship, he said.
“This, I am sure, will be able to supply polo ponies at affordable prices. I congratulate the Association and its members, for all their sincere efforts for the preservation and popularization of polo in Manipur, and for organising the 6th Manipur Polo International 2012.”
“Government of Manipur had also sanctioned Rupees thirty lakhs for organising this tournament.”
“The participating teams of the 6th Manipur Polo international 2012, England, France, Germany, Thailand, India Team-A and India Team-B (Manipur) will play the game here in the historic Imphal Pologround, also known as Mapal Kangjeibung, which is the oldest playing Pologround of the world.”
Minister Govindas Konthoujam in his presidential speech said, “The Manipur Polo International hopes to deliver all polo lovers of the world with the birthplace of the game and to save guard the original Polo pony”.
Starting from this year, the government will increase the amount sanctioned to the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association for the maintenance of the Manipur Pony breeding farm from Rs 7 lakhs to Rs 10 lakhs, the Minister said.
Hurlingham Polo Association England said the rules of Polo have been lifted from the Manipuri ‘Sagol Kangjei’.
He continued that the people of Manipur have gifted the game of Polo to the world.
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