Polo in Assam

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (Indian Polo Association (ipa.co.in), All Manipur Polo Association (polomanipur.com), Wikipedia — Polo in India, Manipur International Polo).

Overview

Governing body: Indian Polo Association
Origin: Ancient Persia / Manipur
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Team
Total players listed: …

Polo is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The Indian Polo Association oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Polo is not currently on the Olympic programme, but it sits firmly inside India's broader sporting ecosystem. The discipline receives support through the Khelo India movement, multi-sport events such as the National Games and Asian Games trials wherever the sport is contested, and dedicated league or championship structures run by the federation. Sponsorship, broadcast deals and private academies often fill the gap that direct government funding leaves, and several state governments offer cash awards, government jobs and land grants to medallists at the National Games and recognised world championships.

As a team sport, Polo in India is built around a club, district and state structure that culminates in national-level inter-state competition. State associations affiliated to the Indian Polo Association run age-group leagues from under-14 upwards, with the strongest pools historically coming from states with established grassroots infrastructure. Franchise leagues — where they exist — sit on top of this pyramid and have transformed athlete earnings, broadcast visibility and the professionalisation of coaching and support staff. School and college tournaments under SGFI and AIU remain the primary discovery route for players who do not come through a private academy.

At the grassroots, the route into Polo typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Polo originated in Ancient Persia / Manipur, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Polo, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the Indian Polo Association, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Polo is played and developed across India under the Indian Polo Association, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How polo evolved globally and took root in India.

Polo traces its modern origins to Ancient Persia / Manipur. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and Indian Polo Association is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, polo grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under Indian Polo Association, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Polo sits outside the Olympic programme but is firmly part of India's Asian Games, Commonwealth and National Games map, with state governments backing medallists through cash awards, jobs and land grants.

Indian Players

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Rules

Two teams of 4 mounted players use long-handled mallets to hit a ball, scoring by driving it between the opponent's goalposts. Matches are divided into periods called chukkas (typically 7 minutes each), with players changing horses between chukkas.

Authoritative rulebook: Indian Polo Association. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a polo squad or competition.

Attackers / forwards
Primary scorers who operate closest to the opposition goal or scoring zone.
Midfielders / all-rounders
Link play between defence and attack; usually the highest work-rate positions.
Defenders
Deny the opposition space and possession in the defensive third.
Goalkeeper / last line
Specialist stopper with distinct kit and rules; the final line of defence.
Captain & vice-captain
On-field leadership, decision-making and communication with match officials.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in polo at a federation-recognised event.

Polo mallet
Polo ball
Polo pony
Helmet and knee guards

Governing body

National federation

Indian Polo Association

Indian Polo Association is the recognised national body for Polo in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for polo. State associations under Indian Polo Association run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: Ancient Persia / Manipur
Olympic: No
Category: Team

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Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the polo calendar in India.

Indian Polo Championship
Organized by the Indian Polo Association (IPA, founded 1892), revived in 1956 after a 17-year hiatus and held regularly since. The President's Cup (inaugurated 1975) is among its most prestigious trophies. Historically contested by teams from former princely states (Jaipur, Alwar, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Jodhpur), now including Army cavalry regiments and civilian clubs.
Manipur International Polo Tournament
A separate major annual event held at Imphal Polo Ground (Mapal Kangjeibung — recognized as the world's oldest polo ground), organized by the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association since the 1950s. India fields both an IPA 'India-A' team and a Manipur 'India-B' team, alongside international sides from over a dozen countries.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in polo.

FIP World Polo Championship
India has competed four times (1995, 2011, 2017). India also won the pre-FIP World Championship held in Deauville, France, in 1957.
Manipur Statehood Day Women's Polo Tournament
Held annually since 2016 — the first and only international women's polo tournament held in India.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for polo. The national championship under Indian Polo Association remains the top domestic competition.

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International Players

Globally recognised polo athletes to know outside India.

Lionel Messi (Argentina)
8-time Ballon d'Or; 2022 World Cup winner.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
5-time Ballon d'Or; Euro 2016 champion.
Kylian Mbappé (France)
2018 World Cup winner; multiple Ligue 1 top scorer.
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Manchester City forward; Premier League Golden Boot.
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper; Bayern Munich legend.

Records

Where to find India's official polo record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Polo is not on the Olympic programme, so India records this discipline through Asian Games, Commonwealth, World and Continental championships instead.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in polo are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the Indian Polo Association.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in polo are maintained by the Indian Polo Association.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for polo and mirrored by Indian Polo Association.
National record holdersFederation register
Indian Polo Association publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in polo — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

India is widely credited as the birthplace of modern polo — the sport traces to Manipur's traditional 'Sagol Kangjei,' with rules said to date to King Khagemba's reign in the early 1600s, before British cavalry officers and tea planters carried the game to England in the 1860s
Playing pathway through Indian Polo Association clubs (35 currently registered) and Army cavalry regiments, notably 61 Cavalry
Traditional Manipuri polo pathway through the All Manipur Polo Association
Coaching and umpiring certification through IPA
Allied careers in horse breeding, training and stable management, given the sport's dependence on polo ponies

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Related academies

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No polo academies are catalogued in the directory yet. Browse the full academy list or list your academy to appear here.

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Government Schemes

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Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for polo athletes and academies.

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FAQs

Common questions about polo in India.

Who governs Polo in India?▾

Indian Polo Association is the recognised national federation for Polo in India. State associations under Indian Polo Association run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Polo an Olympic sport?▾

Polo is not currently on the Olympic programme, but India competes at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games (where recognised), World Championships and other continental events sanctioned by Indian Polo Association.

How do I start playing Polo in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Polo athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Polo?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Polo athletes selected for international events?▾

Indian Polo Association runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Polo in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Polo in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Polo