Polo

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Polo is a team game played on a field with one goal for each team. One team has four players. The object is to propel the ball through the goal. In this it is similar to many team sports such as football and field hockey. The main difference is that the players play on horseback, or in the water (if the latter, the sport is often referred to as "water polo").

History

The origin of polo is a controversial topic with several countries claiming to be the birthplace of this game. However, it is a fact that Polo came to the west via Manipur, a North Eastern state in India. According to historical accounts, during the late 19th century, one British government official stationed there wrote an account of the sport, which was known locally as "Sagol Kangjei" and its popularity spread.

According to the Guinness Book of Records in its 1991 edition (page 288): "Polo: Origins: Origins of Polo can be traced to origins in Manipur State c. 3100 B.C. when it was played as Sagol Kangjei".

It is recorded during the House of Lords debate on Jubraj Tikendrajit's trial on 22nd June 1891, the Marques of Ripon said about Manipur "it is a small State (Manipur), probably until these events took place very little known to your Lordships, unless, indeed, some of you may have heard of it as the birth place of the Game of Polo,"

Some other facts about the game:

The earliest club was the Cachar Club founded in 1859 in Assam, India.
The oldest Polo Club in the world still in existence is the Calcutta Polo Club (1862).
The oldest existing polo ground in the World is in Imphal, Manipur, India.
The 10th Hussars at Aldershot, Hants, introduced the game to England from India in 1869
The game's governing body is the Hurligham Polo Association, which drew up the first set of rules in 1874, many of which are still in existence.

The sport became popular amongst European nobility but during the early part of 20th century, under the leadership of Harry Payne Whitney, polo changed to become a high-speed sport in the United States, differing from the game in England where it involved short passes to move the ball toward the opposition's goal. Whitney and his teammates used the fast break, sending long passes downfield to riders who had broken away from the pack at a full gallop.

See also Polocrosse for another game played on horseback.

Other uses:

A polo-neck sweater has a circular neck-hole, as opposed to a v-neck.
Polo Mints are ring-shaped mints, similar to Lifesavers Mints.