Polo action returns to iconic ground after almost 100 years
The Bombay Gymkhana, will mark a historic day as they are set to once again host the 2024 edition of the Volvo Bombay Gymkhana Arena Polo Championship at their hallowed turf on Sunday, May 12, 2024. This premier polo event is being revived after almost a century.
The Bombay Gymkhana Polo Challenge Cup, was founded in 1882 and the inaugural edition was won by the Central India Horse team, but it was brought back home to the Bombay Gymkhana in 1885 by the Gymkhana’s polo team.
Sanjiv Saran Mehra, President of Bombay Gymkhana, said, “As a precursor to the Bombay Gymkhana 150th year celebrations in 2025 we have plans to organise various sporting events, some new additions (like the Bombay Gymkhana 10K run which was held in March 2024 or reviving some sports events linked to our rich sporting heritage. It is in this connection that we are reviving ‘The Bombay Polo Challenge Cup’ founded in 1882.”
Two teams comprising a mix of players from the Amateur Riders Club, Mumbai and the Artillery Corps, Nasik will battle it out for supremacy and the glittering trophy under floodlights in an arena format on Sunday.
The contest will be witnessed by a distinguished gathering of dignitaries including Lt. Gen. Arun Kumar Sahni, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM (Retd) Vice President, Indian Polo Association, Mr Suresh Tapuriah, Managing Trustee, Indian Polo Foundation and former President, Amateur Riders Club and Mr Nasir Jamal, Vice President, Amateur Riders’ Club. Mr Sanjiv Saran Mehra, President, Bombay Gymkhana Limited and the respected Managing Committee members of both these legendary sporting institutions.
It is a momentous occasion for the sport and for the social calendar of the city as once again, the Army and the civilian teams join hands as Bombay Gymkhana will restore one of its formation games – POLO.
The Bombay Gymkhana, India’s most prestigious and premier clubs founded in 1875 boasts of having a very rich heritage of sporting history and culture. The Gymkhana takes pride of having hosted the first Cricket Test match in India in 1933 was also the home of Polo with the sport being hosted by Bombay Gymkhana and competitions being conducted until the 1920 at this iconic venue.
Polo was last played at Bombay Gymkhana till the early 1920s.
One of the most priceless mementoes in the trophy room of the almost 150 year old Bombay Gymkhana is the stunning ‘The Bombay Polo Challenge Cup’ (instituted in 1882). And the timeless etching on this gorgeous trophy bears testimony to the fact that while the inaugural edition in 1882 was won by the Central India Horse team, it was brought back home to the Bombay Gymkhana in 1885 by its polo team.
In fact, a few of the old timers reminisce how the club had originally been conceived to ‘encourage the sport of horse riding and polo’ amongst the members of the time. During this time, the Bombay Gymkhana used to field one of the most skilled polo teams in the country, matched only by illustrious teams like the Poona Gymkhana, 7th Hussars and Hyderabad. Prominent teams of the pre-World War II period included Alwar, Bhopal, Bikaner, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Patiala, Jodhpur, Kishangarh and Kashmir.
The majority of the Cavalry regiments of the British Army and the British Indian Army also fielded teams, the most prominent amongst them were the Central India Horse (CHI), Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry (PAVO’s Cav), the Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, the 10th Royal Hussars, the 15th Lancers, and the 17/21st Lancers.
This was a time when the Army and the civilian teams worked shoulder to shoulder to promote the sport of polo across the country. However, with the vagaries of time and modern living and war and strife, polo took a back seat as the members of the Gymkhana excelled in sports like rugby, billiards, squash and of course, cricket. It is interesting to note that during over the last 150 years, while India remained the spiritual fount, the sport of polo has found popularity across the world and is currently played in over 70 countries.
The Co-sponsors for the event are 25 Residences, the Associate Sponsors is IndusInd Bank and the Celebration partner is Longitude77.