Pride, discipline, honour and a swift right drive; these are some of the things potential polo players will need to possess if they’re going to cut it in this ancient sport, according to the Maharaja of Jaipur, one of the game’s youngest rising stars.
Each year 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts hosts the lavish Polo Puissance Cup event, a tournament that draws both polo players from around the world as the glam set that the sport of kings seduces. Competing at the prestigious Pattaya event was the Maharaja of Jaipur Sawai Padmanabh Singh, an accomplished polo player and one of the world’s youngest billionaire kings. He took time out to share his five principles of polo.
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The Horse
Horses are perhaps the most important factor when one plays horse polo. Without these beautiful animals, the game would not be possible. One must learn to take care of the polo ponies and practice with them adroitly. It is amazing how we can work with them as a team. All polo players must love and take care of their horses.
The Rules
Polo can be a fast and dangerous game, which is why it is of utmost importance that one follows all the rules strictly. Players must be well-versed with the rules relating to ‘Ride Offs’, ‘Hooks’ and safe use of the ‘Mallet’.
The Glamour
The world over, polo is associated with lifestyle and even glamour. A player must not get carried away by these elements and keep himself focused on continually improving the game. Like other games, polo too requires constant practice.
Pride
Having been played by cavalry officers for centuries, there is a huge sense of pride in the game. Whether one is playing for the club or the national team, a polo player must always have a sense of pride. It is only fitting that generations of polo players leave a legacy with the game. For instance, my grandfather was a world-class polo player. We have inherited the talent for playing this game from our forefathers, which is indeed a matter of pride.
Promotion
The last point is not exactly a principle but it is my belief that horse polo should be aggressively promoted by all polo-playing countries so that one day it becomes an Olympic game.
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