{"id":20488,"date":"2025-09-24T17:09:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T11:39:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jbsagolf.com\/blogs\/?p=20488"},"modified":"2025-10-27T08:47:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:47:43","slug":"the-origins-and-history-of-polo-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jbsagolf.com\/blogs\/the-origins-and-history-of-polo-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"The Origins and History of Polo in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

Polo has deep roots in India, both in myth and in documented history. The traditional Manipuri game Sagol Kangjei is often cited as one of the earliest forms of polo. Played in Manipur with indigenous ponies, the game is embedded in the culture, ritual, and history of the Meitei people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Legend traces Sagol Kangjei back to before the Common Era in Manipur, and by the early modern era, it was being played publicly in Manipur\u2019s royal courts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the arrival of the British in India, polo as known in its current form was formalized. The British officers encountering polo in Manipur or Assam (Silchar) helped transfer the game into clubs, codified rules, and introduced it into imperial society. The Indian Polo Association (IPA) was founded in 1892.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over time, especially in princely states like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Patiala, etc., and in provinces governed by the British, polo became associated with royalty, aristocracy, the military, and elite social circles.<\/span><\/p>\n

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