 "Exclusive | Indian Polo 2024-25 ends on a high: Rising talent, strong teams, and big plans for next season")
As the final chukker of the Indian polo season 2024–25 closed with the Aditya Birla Memorial Tournament in the Delhi Spring calendar, the sport capped off a vibrant and intensely competitive season that has left players, patrons, and administrators looking ahead with optimism.
The season, which stretched from August 2024 to the end of March 2025, witnessed a mix of institutional strength, private team innovation, and a deeper push towards youth development and competitiveness across the board.
Over half a dozen cities hosted tournaments ranging from low- to high-goal formats, and the level of play was described by many as the most balanced and unpredictable in recent memory.
“The greatest thing that I think we have achieved is that we’ve had a very safe season. We’ve had no injuries. That’s a big thing for me,” said Rajesh Sahgal, chairman of the Polo Tournament Committee.
“And also, to top it all, there’s been very good polo, very competitive. And the best part is that all the cups have been taken by different teams. So it’s not that only one team has taken away all the glory. It’s been a very balanced and competitive season for us," he told Firstpost.
Among the standout stories was the Achievers Polo Team, which made a full-fledged entry into competitive polo this season.
Across 16 tournaments in Delhi, Jaipur and the Spring calendar, Achievers reached 12 finals and won nine cups — including marquee titles such as the Indian Open National Championship (for the eighth consecutive year), the Cavalry Gold Cup and the Aditya Birla Cup.
The team also made headlines by giving exposure to upcoming talent including Vishwarupe Bajaj, Dino Dhankar and Aryaman Singh, India’s youngest polo player at just 13.
In a notable move, Achievers also featured Dr. Shivangi Jaisingh, bringing a woman player to the competitive Delhi circuit — a rare sight that delighted audiences.
“Achievers team will continue to strive for excellence in future, while promoting this old Indian sport and groom young players,” said Parul Rai, co-owner of the Achievers team.
“Achievers also plans to beef up their string of horses, get some fresh stock from Argentina, UK, etc. and strive to improve their performance, and maintain their ‘Champion Team’ status," Rai revealed to Firstpost.
“Achievers has a vision of contributing their bit in identifying and promoting young new talent, training them through their participation in competitive sport and building the bench strength of the country for making India more competitive in the world of Polo,” she added.
Another major success story this season was Delta Polo, a relatively new entrant in the Indian circuit. In just its second year, Delta won four major trophies including the Umaid Bhawan Palace Sir Pratap Singh Cup and the Northern India Polo Championship (14 goal).
Their partnership with Jaipur Polo and focus on building a competitive squad through the use of top-tier ponies and mentorship of Indian talent stood out.
“Beyond titles, we’ve made strategic moves this season,” said Dr. Aishwarya Paliwal, patron of Delta Polo.
“Recruited emerging Indian players, giving them the chance to train with and shadow international pros… We have a continued focus on nurturing Indian talent, especially -2 to 0 goal players, and grooming them through structured mentorship within the team," Paliwal told Firstpost.
Indian polo saw increased international engagement this season, with several foreign professionals coming to play across the Delhi and Jaipur circuits. Many of them carried back stories of India’s rich polo culture — a point of pride for many in the Indian Polo Association (IPA).
“We have always gotten international polo teams to play in India and they are the brand ambassadors to tell the world that we are the oldest polo playing nation,” said Deepak Udar, IPA North India Steward.
“And in the season we had a lot of foreign players who are coming and playing for local platforms. And they definitely go and tell everyone that India is still the home of modern polo… If you ask anywhere in the world, everyone knows polo comes from India.”
Ben Turner, a UK-based professional umpire who spent a total of ten weeks officiating in the Delhi seasons, echoed that sentiment. “The competition has been very close. We haven’t really known who’s going to win any of the tournaments, which has been great for the teams as well as the spectators,” he told Firstpost.
“I noticed that a lot of the Indian players have gone up in handicaps. So obviously, they’ve all played well… Horses are being brought in for next season. A lot of talk about next season, so there’s a lot to look forward to.”
From the governance side, the IPA also rolled out changes that allowed clubs to host up to 6-goal tournaments — creating more game time for amateur and young players. This aligned with the broader trend of increased participation across the board.
“There are some army cups which have come into play now,” noted Sahgal. “So that gives an opportunity to a lot of youngsters and upcoming players to continuously keep playing and practising.”
The season’s openness and intensity were also aided by a temporary recalibration of player handicaps, which brought tournament levels down and allowed more teams to compete on a relatively level field.
“This year actually was a very very big change in Indian polo after so many years,” said veteran +3 handicap player Abhimanyu Pathak.
“All the players, we all went down in handicap, which is not a great thing to do. But we did it so that the level of the tournament goes down so that a lot more participation can happen… You don’t know which team is going to perform well or win. It was always a touch and go with every team.”
“I think it’s good in any sport to sometimes take a year and, you know, sort of come down and try and get everyone back up again… So I’m hoping this has given a platform and a good sort of infrastructure to a lot of new teams and new players," Pathak shared with Firstpost.
Many of those new players were on display during the junior polo matches in Delhi, highlighting the depth coming into the sport.
“We have a lot of youngsters coming up,” said Udar. “This morning there was a junior polo match… Eight young polo players were there. And they are getting ready for the big battle on JPG [Jaipur Polo Ground in New Delhi].”
Jai Shergill, a national selector and member of the IPA, summed up the momentum.
“It’s been a wonderful season… We should get more patrons in the sport. More young patrons should come up. But we have had a wonderful season, all cups have been taken. And as you see today [March 30], we have got the Vice President of India coming to grace this cup. So polo is moving in the right direction," he told Firstpost during the final of the Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup held at the Jaipur Polo Ground in New Delhi.
With horses already being prepared for the next season, foreign professionals hinting at returns, and teams like Delta planning exhibition matches in Dubai, there is a palpable sense that the Indian polo calendar is not just closing a chapter — it’s setting up a new one.
As Pathak pointed out, there’s hope that tournaments will return to higher handicap levels next season, now that new teams have found their footing.
“This is a great beginning for Indian Polo,” Colonel Pinka Virk, former IPA Secretary told Firstpost.
“The youngsters are going and buying horses abroad as well as going abroad to play. So we should thank the IPA that they have given a platform for such youngsters to come up and play at a level where they feel they’ve improved, they’ve arrived and they move forward.”
Firstpost’s in-depth coverage of polo in India
Over the past season, Firstpost has closely tracked the revival and evolution of Indian polo through a series of exclusive, ground-up features. From high-stakes tournaments to developmental challenges, the stories have offered rare access into India’s niche but culturally rich polo ecosystem.
Polo, India’s royal sport, is experiencing a resurgence with growing players, sponsors, and global partnerships.@_anmol_singla, who recently attended Sir Pratap Singh Polo Cup, writes on the game’s evolution, challenges, and future in India.https://t.co/9K6Xb1qn5r
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 21, 2024
The series began with a deep dive into the sport’s elite heritage and the role of Indian royalty and military units in sustaining it .
Despite its royal roots, the sport of polo faces modern challenges, relying on private sponsorship and grassroots efforts to grow@_anmol_singla looks at how the Indian Army sustains the legacy of polo in India
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 5, 2024
Read 👇https://t.co/BD3lI9BT7e
Subsequent features zoomed in on modern issues — why Indian players still struggle to break into the top tier globally, how private patrons and clubs are pushing for change, and the legacy of institutions like the President’s Bodyguard and 61st Cavalry.
Set against the historic President’s Bodyguard (PBG) Parade Ground in New Delhi, the President’s Polo Cup celebrates a cherished legacy@_anmol_singla, who attended the exhibition match, looks at the PBG’s association with polo, iconic players and more https://t.co/0Hc3VaMVy2
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 18, 2024
Firstpost also covered the Jindal Steel Indian Polo Championship in detail , using it as a backdrop to ask hard questions about training infrastructure and talent grooming in the country.
Against the backdrop of top-tier events like Jindal Steel Indian Open Polo Championship, @_anmol_singla examines why Indians 🇮🇳 are lagging behind in high-goal polo and the infrastructure and support they need to reach world-class standards
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) March 26, 2025
Read ⤵️https://t.co/kxpNY8V1Eh
The most recent feature examined the Body Guard Diamond Jubilee Invitation Cup, showcasing how the Armed Forces are expanding their polo outreach .
As President’s Bodyguard marks 75 years of service, the Indian Army is intensifying its polo initiatives with fresh strategies and structured training programmes.@_anmol_singla spoke to major stakeholders about their future plans and aspirations. https://t.co/u6voyeuyx1
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) April 5, 2025
This current wrap-up of the 2024–25 polo season in India continues that editorial commitment.
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