Manipur Tourism is all set to organize the 3rd Manipur Statehood Day Women’s Polo Tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung, the oldest living polo ground in the world located in the heart of Imphal town from January 17-21, 2018.
The tournament is a ground breaking showcase of the only international women’s polo tournament in India. The teams and players for this unique polo event will be announced soon, sources said.
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Manipur Tourism will be presenting the tournament as a fitting event in the birthplace of modern polo, in recognition of Manipur’s contribution of two/three of the women polo players of India.
The indigenous Manipuri pony will be exclusively used for the tournament. This league tournament is also a part of Manipur Tourism’s initiative to save the unique endangered Manipuri pony and to promote polo tourism in the State.
Manipur Tourism’s pioneering Manipur Statehood Day Women’s Polo Tournament – a production of Polo Yatra, the women’s polo initiative of Huntre! Equine, is organized by the All Manipur Polo Association.
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‘Incredible India!’ will provide the international travel support for this event. Special events and eminent participants from across the country will be announced soon, according to official sources.
The authorities in the State has been organising the Manipur International Polo festival during Manipur Sangai festival in November every year since the last few years at the Mapal Kangjeibung.
The Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association was also set up in the last seventies to revive polo so as to aid the pony’s survival. Manipuri pony, also endemic to Manipur, their number is fast declining with the disappearance of grazing grounds and lack of investment.
Another reason is smuggling. Many pony owners, who earn their livelihood from agriculture and allied activities find the returns from rearing ponies, unlike those from dairy farming, poultry and piggery, less attractive.