ELEPHANT POLO IN JAIPUR

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1522579,000600030012.htm  

A date with elephants for polo

 

Lokendra Singh (Asian News International)

 

Jaipur, October 18, 2005

 

All have heard of Polo played astride horse. Recently, polo lovers of Jaipur

organised a polo match between the two teams from Pakistan and Germany with

players riding elephants instead of the customary horses.

 

The participating members teams were from Lahore Polo Club of Pakistan and the

Amby Valley of Germany. Another interesting aspect of the event was that the

Pakistan team comprised of three male players who vied with three female

counterparts from Germany.

 

The players needed special arrangements while negotiating the ground sitting on

the pachyderms. They used specially designed sticks to strike the ball. The

umpire was also sitting on another elephant taking the number of participating

elephants to seven.

 

Midway through the game the elephants stepped on the ball and busted it, much to

the amusement of the audience. Apart from the audience that thoroughly enjoyed

the game, the players themselves were thrilled to participate in the unique

event.

 

It was an exhibition match played between both the countries. " It was wonderful.

This is the first opportunity, we had a ride on elephants and it was so

exciting. It's pretty high and mallets were very heavy. You have to reach a long

way down and elephants move slower than horses. So, you have to bend very

carefully, " says Paula Beamer, a German polo player.

 

" It is exciting because you want to go faster than the elephant would go. So,

this is exciting. The stick was very long so, it's hard to make shots. You can

only try to push the ball somewhere. But its good fun, " said Oda Diepold,

another German polo player.

 

" This is an entirely a new experience for me. In Pakistan we don't have such

elephants (polo elephants). We have never ever played polo sitting on elephants

but it was a very nice experience, very different actually. A little scary for

all of us also because when you fall off a horse you don't hurt yourself too

much but when you fall off an elephant the fall could be fatal. But very

exciting, " said Shaukat Ali, Pakistani polo player.

 

" I played elephant polo for the first time and enjoyed it a lot. It was a very

good experience and very different for me. I sat on an elephant for the first

time, " said Usman Haye, another Pakistani polo player.

 

The Maharajahs of Jaipur first played elephant polo in 1975. Though not played

very often it remains a tremendous source of entertainment and fun for all those

associated with the events.

 

Elephants have been part of the Indian culture since time immemorial. They

represented the strength and power of Kings and Emperors. It was therefore

natural that polo, the king of sports, was played on elephants as well.

 

At the Polo Grounds, guests are welcomed by a royal military brass band, while

decorated elephants, camels and horses add to regal atmosphere.

 

The game is played over four rounds of seven minutes each. Guests are encouraged

to play this fun sport, which is absolutely safe and an unforgettable regal

experience. Players change after every round in order to ensure that maximum

number of guests get an opportunity to participate.

 

Usually, there is an award ceremony and certificates are given to each player.

This prize distribution ceremony is followed by a buffet dinner.