Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thrills, spills and action
|
Bison polo ground in Secunderabad will witness some of the best players in action and also spectacular matches of the exciting sport, writes ABHIJIT SEN GUPTA.
|
Polo fans in the city can look forward to action-packed contests. — Photos: Mohd. Yousuf
THE POLO season got off to a flying start at the Bison polo ground in Secunderabad. Thanks to the efforts of the A.P. Riding Club, the sport has got a boost and has become a regular feature of the Hyderabad sports calendar. As usual, some of the country's best players are in the fray and there are plenty of thrills, spills and action-filled matches at the venue everyday.
According to Shehzad Abbas who is now the Secretary of the A.P. Riding Club, polo matches and tournaments started in Hyderabad during the reign of Nizam Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, who loved equestrian sports and decided to sponsor and encourage polo in a big way. In the course of time, the sport reached its zenith and Hyderabad produced several players who made a name for themselves at the regional and national level.
There are legendary tales about the skills and achievements of Shah Mirza Baig, one of the most renowned players of those days. The British army units stationed around Secunderabad used to play the game frequently and on one occasion, Shah Mirza Baig slammed in 19 goals against a team comprising some of the best players drawn from British army outfits — a feat which drew high praise from King George who was witness to that match.
He is reported to have said that although he had seen the best polo players in the world in action, he had never seen anybody as good as Shah Mirza Baig.
"Soon, the Golconda polo team from Hyderabad emerged as one of the best teams in the country. Major Khusro Jung Bahadur, Brigadier Taufiq Ali and Colonel Mirza Baig were among the foremost players in the country. Each of them had a handicap as high as seven goals and there were few players or teams which could match the speed and skills of these gentlemen," says Shehzad. "They took part in tournaments all over the world and won trophies in France, Germany and other countries."
The A.P.R.C. team led by Shehzad Abbas (left).
However, after Independence, polo took a backseat since more pressing political and administrative activities took up the time and energies of the individuals who were the main forces behind the development of polo. But, the A.P. Riding Club began making efforts to revive the sport and, in 1972, started organising national level tournaments again. Major General Bajwa took a keen interest in the game and the army helped to prepare the present pitch at the Bison polo ground making it conducive for conducting matches.
"People such as Fazilath Hussain, Raza Ali Khan, and Ghulam Hyder enabled the game to flourish once again and with the army offering adequate support in terms of maintenance and manpower, the A.P.R.C. could once again conduct the sport regularly," says Shehzad.
"One thing we must realise is that without the whole-hearted cooperation of the army, polo cannot be held successfully anywhere in India. Any civilian organisation would find it extremely difficult to find the facilities and grounds, or for that matter, mobilise the required manpower to conduct polo successfully," says Shehzad. "This year too, we have been helped to a great extent by the army in conducting our tournaments here," he says.
Another important aspect for any sport to do well is to find a sponsor. In this respect, the A.P.R.C. has been lucky in getting the support of the Taj Group of Hotels. The Hyderabad Race Club has also stepped forward to sponsor the HRC trophy. Some of the top teams which are taking part in this year's tournaments include National Defence Academy, Indian Navy, A.S.C, Bangalore and A.P.R.C. However, one of the most reputed outfits namely the 61st Cavalry, which used to take part regularly, is missing from the fray this time due to other commitments.
Noted players such as Colonel K.S. Garcha, Dhruvpal Godara, Vishal Singh, Akhil Sirohi and Captain N.S. Khera will be seen in action, representing various teams. Playing for A.P.R.C. will be the best talent available in Hyderabad in the form of some very promising young players from the twin cities. Those who love this sport can expect to see some action packed contests in the next few days.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
