Lack of infrastructure is hurting Polo in India - former national captain

Samir Suhag

“In the midst of all Cricket, Hockey, Football, we have forgotten Polo, a game which has Indian origin”, says Samir Suhag, who won the 2012 Arjuna Award for his achievements in Polo.

Polo today has become a social event, says Suhag, who was part of 5 Indian World Cup teams. It is unpopular amongst youngsters because it was only the army contingent that were seriously involved with the sport, which otherwise had no external promotion.

But the main drawback is the infrastructure in the nation. “In Buenos Aires, which was the venue for the 1987 world cup, there are close to 200 polo grounds, whereas in India there are less than 20. If you take the infrastructure away, it is impossible to do anything. If our country had just one or two cricket stadiums, we would never see too many cricketers taking the game seriously,” says Suhag, further adding: “Polo used to be very popular, but now media coverage and the finances that other sports get, we don’t. At the end of the day, it comes down to how much it is broadcast, which polo isn’t.”

Despite this, Suhag remains hopeful that the sport will eventually grow. “The federation and the government can do a lot for the game. Polo is a game which originated in India so I think a joint effort would definitely give results.” he says.

Suhag, who is currently captaining the Sahara team, was elated when corporates got involved in promoting the game. He perceived it as a step forward. “Polo is a game in which expenses are high and for that it is often called a ‘Rich man’s game’,” he says. “But compared to golf and tennis, membership into clubs is still reasonable.”

The only thing that makes the sport expensive is the horses, says the veteran.

However, the Army Polo & Riding Club in Delhi, Amateur Riders’ Club in Mumbai and the Kolkata Polo Club have started leasing horses for a very nominal amount. A ride would cost Rs 150 to about Rs 250 a chukka (each of a number of periods into which play in a game of Polo is divided).

Known for his long hitting and quick ball play, Suhag picked up polo after class XII. His father was also a seasoned polo player, which made it easier for him to get involved in the game from an early age.

Suhag also played the game with Naveen Jindal, chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, and would go on to lead the national team for 15 years.

His first international experience was at the 1991 Malaysia World cup, two years after he had started playing. “Our performance in World Cups has been good. At the last world cup in Argentina we didn’t perform to our potential, but we won the biggest zone which includes Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.”

At the twilight of his career, Suhag only hopes that Polo gets the recognition it deserves. According to him, it can only happen if more clubs come forward to promote a sport that he feels has been unfairly sidelined.