When you think about the different disciplines of sports you come across during tea time, while scrolling on social media, or in casual discussions with friends, polo rarely features among them. Often considered a niche sport and a game for aristocrats, polo is widely perceived as inaccessible to the common person. Yet, it remains a sport steeped in tradition and rich history.
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Believed to have originated in Persia almost 2,000 years ago, the game gradually made its way to the Western world via India. The country has a long history of kings and nobility embracing the equestrian sport, which was part of the Olympics from 1900 to 1936. In India, it all began with the Calcutta Polo Club in 1862, while Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II later founded the Jaipur team in the early 20th century. That legacy continues today under Padmanabh Singh, the current Maharaja, who captains the Jaipur team — one of the strongest polo sides in India.
While Padmanabh leads the team, Jaipur also boasts one of the best players in the world — Lance Watson. When India Today caught up with the four-goal professional player, he came across as calm and passionate about the sport.
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