The Ahmedabad Polo Tournament, Gujarat’s biggest polo event, concluded on Sunday after three days of intense competition, equestrian sports, and cultural performances.
A Festive Finale
Organised by the Gujarat Polo Association and supported by the Adani Group, the final day merged sports with entertainment. It kicked off with a dance performance and an exciting Trone Act, creating a festive atmosphere. Equestrian demonstrations showcased the discipline and skill inherent in horse sports.
Women’s Teams Shine
A key highlight of the third day was the match between Apollo Aviators and Lion’s Den Legends, the two women’s teams in the tournament. In a closely contested encounter, Lion’s Den Legends edged past Apollo Aviators 4–3. Sanjula Mann scored all three goals for Apollo Aviators, while Dr. Shivangi Jai Singh led Lion’s Den Legends with three goals. Lavanya Shekhawat contributed another goal, sealing the victory.
Men’s Final Thrills
The men’s final featured Mayfair Polo against Pune Warriors, concluding with an exciting finish. Both teams were tied at 7–7 at the end of regulation time, but Pune Warriors claimed victory with a Golden Goal, ending the match 8–7.
Lance Watson was pivotal for Pune Warriors with seven goals, supported by one from Major Anant Rajpurohit. For Mayfair Polo, Dino Dhankhar and Daniel Otamendi each scored three goals, while Lt. Col Vishal Chauhan added one.
Celebrating Polo’s Future
The tournament wrapped up with a felicitation and prize distribution ceremony.
Arpan Gupta, Promoter of Gujarat Polo Club, expressed, “The response to the Ahmedabad Polo Tournament has exceeded our expectations. From the quality of play to the enthusiasm of the spectators, the tournament reflects the growing interest in polo in Gujarat. Our objective was to celebrate the sport’s heritage while making it engaging and accessible for a wider audience, and I believe we have achieved that.”
Sanjay Paladia, also a Promoter of Gujarat Polo Club, stated, “This tournament has demonstrated that Ahmedabad has both the appetite and infrastructure to host polo at a national level. The participation of leading national and international players, inclusion of women’s teams, the standard of competition, and the scale of the event point to a strong future for polo in Gujarat. We see this as the beginning of a long-term sporting tradition.”
The Ahmedabad Polo Tournament has successfully established itself as an event that connects sport, culture, and heritage, setting the stage for the revival of the “king of games” in the state.