POLO – The sport of kings !

( The history and origin )
Polo is a traditional game which originated in Persia.It is an out-door team sport,also known as ‘The sport of Kings’,in which a team of players mounted on horsebacks,aim to drive a wooden ball using a long-handled mallet into the rival team’s goal and thus gain their score.

History
Originating from ancient Persia,polo was invention varied from 6th century BC to 1st century AD.The game has a very close association with the ancient emperors and their history.In 316 AD,Shapur II
,learnt to play polo at the age of 7.He was a Persian emperor and soon his negihbouring empire - Byzantine adopted it too and called it Tzykanisterion.It’s first stadium was built by  emperor Theodosius II inside The Great Palace of Constantinople.

The known emperor Alexander died of exhaustion while playing the game where as the Sultan of Delhi,Qutubuddin Aibak of the Slave Dynasty died because of a fatal injury dunring the game.The Egyptian Emperors have known to be chauvinist in this regard as they considered polo superior to all other games and encouraged the game in their courts .

In China,during the Tang Dynasty polo was first played by women and in japan it was played by the middle aged.Thus how the roots of polo spread far and wide !

Evolution of the new Polo

The modern polo first came into being in India,from the state of Manipur where it was known as ‘ pulu ’ meaning a ball.The king of Manipur - King Kangba framed the rules for the game.

Many new techniques and do-hows were introduced and the sport gained a modern approach.However the sport was popularised in India by the first Mughal Emperor – Babur.

World wide acknowledgement

World’s oldest polo ground situated in Implal,Manipur was measured 255 by 110 yards by the Viceroy of India,Lord Curzon.Later Sherer and Captain Robert Stewart,two british men established the Calcutta Polo club,which is the oldest polo club .

Britain imported the game and the rules were further amended.As a result polo clubs were established thoughout England and the english-men spread it in the rest of the world .

    The polo pony

The height of the polo ponies must range from 58 to 64 inches and they must weigh from410 -500 kg.The normal ability of the polo ponies to play regardless of any serious injuries is approximately 18 years.

Polo varients

Lastly,polo is not a sport ristricted to a particular version.Polo has been broadly divided into various categories some of which are:

Ice polo which was very polular in USA during 1880’s.It was much like ice hockey.Cowboy polo was also played in US with a team of five riders on dirt surface.

The Elephant polo is also very popular where the horses are substitued with elephants.The game is very significant in Thailand .
Similarly there is yak polo and Camel polo too played in different countries.

Thus the game is still on the path of new discoveries and methods within the game to make it more interesting and for drawing in more crowd, besides the ultimate aim to including it as an Olympic sport as desired by many .
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