The President’s Bodyguard, the President’s Polo Cup, and Their Legacy with the Sport and Outreach in Polo Today–

In the heart of nationwide resources, snuggled within the historical districts of the President’s Estate, exists the cradle of Indian polo– the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) Parade Ground.

On 14 December, 2024, this fabled place organized the legendary President’s Polo Cup, gone to by none aside from the President Droupadi Murmu.

The yearly polo event suit offered a possibility to direct witness India’s equestrian heritage, the heritage of the PBG and their unequaled payment to Indian polo.

In
our initial function, we checked out the fundamentals of polo and its development possibility in India, adhering to which.
our 2nd function concentrated on the duty of the 61st Cavalry in maintaining the sporting activity’s heritage.

Now we dive much deeper right into the sporting activity and it’s historical link with the senior-most routine of the Indian Army.

The President’s Polo Cup

Established in 1975, the President’s Polo Cup swiftly turned into one of one of the most respected events in the nation. Open to groups with a minimal handicap of 10 objectives, it showcased the finest polo skill in India.

The inaugural occasion, kept in February 1975, was gone to already-President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed andBegum Abida Ahmed For 3 years, this competition prospered under the stewardship of the PBG, coming to be a characteristic of quality in Indian polo.

However, in 2004, the Indian Polo Association (IPA) transitioned from the President’s Bodyguard to the 61st Cavalry, and the Cup saw an unforeseen respite in 2005.

Reviving this valued practice, the PBG arranged the initial President’s Polo Cup Exhibition Match in 2013. This yearly occasion has actually given that ended up being a foundation of the ‘Delhi Fall Polo Season’, supplying a phenomenon of equestrian ability and affordable spirit while strengthening the PBG’s historical connections to the sporting activity.

Jai Shergill, a participant of the IPA and a nationwide selector for the Indian polo group, resembled this view, informing , “The PBG has always been part of polo. The PBG team has been so strong over time. And there’s no question, that the PBG are still very much part of polo.”

Reviving a showing off practice

The PBG’s Parade Ground has actually long been a breeding place for Indian polo skill. As Simran Singh Shergill, a +3 handicap gamer and 2019 Arjuna recipient, thought back, “I’m very happy and very proud to play this game. I feel a lot of respect and a lot of attraction towards the bodyguard [PBG] because I’m a product of the bodyguard as my father commanded this prestigious regiment.”

“For the years that my father was here, I was lucky enough to get a taste of the sport and later on play polo more and become a professional polo player. This place where we’re standing is in the heart of the city,” Simran informed .

President Kovind confers Arjuna Award, 2019 upon Shri Simran Singh Shergill for his achievements in Polo .

🔹Runner up in Polo World Cup play off in 2015
🔹Best player of the tournament in Argentina 2014
🔹He is considered as the longest hitter in the country pic.twitter.com/gY19c1kv6I

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 29, 2019

learnt that apart from Simran, many other renowned polo players like Colonel Billy Sodhi, Brigadier VP Singh, Naveen Jindal, Uday Kalaan, Angad Kalaan, Samir Suhag and others began their journeys here.

In recent years, under the leadership of Colonel Amit Berwal, the commandant of the regiment, PBG has reinvigorated its commitment to polo. Berwal, a polo player himself with a -1 handicap, highlighted the regiment’s multifaceted role:

“The present bodyguard is a professional regiment. We are paratroopers, tankmen, and horsemen. Our primary duties during peace are with the Rashtrapati Bhavan. And presently, we are reviving our equestrian and polo prowess. I’m sure in times to come, you will see PBG polo rise up again.”

Highlighting the support the PBG received this year, Berwal told , “The Bodyguard Equestrian team has already done well. So it’s a win-win for the PBG this year. The honourable president has a very special place in her heart for equestrian sports and horses of the PBG. So we are very thankful to her and to the present team in Rashtrapati Bhavan.”

PBG’s polo outreach

Beyond nurturing its own talent, the PBG has extended its expertise to underserved regions like Ladakh. In 2023, as part of its 250th-year celebrations, the PBG initiated foundational polo training for girls from Ladakh under the backing of Brigadier BD Mishra (retd), the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.

This outreach continued in 2024, with 11 girls from Kargil undergoing training under the watchful eye of PBG instructors. On 30 November 2024, the team also witnessed polo matches and was felicitated by the officials of the IPA at the Jaipur Polo Ground in New Delhi.

spoke to two students — Rehana Akhtar and Shayna Akhtar — from the cohort. Their journey spoke to the programme’s transformative power and its effort to introduce polo to young girls.

“We did not know anything about polo,” said Rehana. “In our home, polo was something we had only seen the boys play. When we heard about a training opportunity in Dras, we went just to see the horses for the first time. From there, we were selected to come to Delhi and train with the President’s Bodyguard.”

Historically, nearly every village in Ladakh maintained its own polo ground, and the sport continues to thrive in many regions beyond Leh, particularly in Dras and Chushot. The latter hosts an annual Ladakh Polo Festival as well.

In Leh, polo has been partly institutionalised, with regular tournaments and exhibition matches taking place on the Polo Ground, set against the majestic backdrop of the Leh Palace.

These matches, often featuring civilian teams competing against the Army, bring a vibrancy and excitement to Ladakh’s summers, drawing an enthusiastic local crowd.

For Shayna, the experience was equally inspiring as she told , “When we arrived at the President’s Bodyguard camp, it was overwhelming to see the magnificent horses. We had only seen small horses back home, but these were so much bigger and stronger. The training instructors guided us step by step, showing us how to mount and handle the horses. It was all new to us, but we learned so much, and it gave us confidence.”

Polo in Ladakh is played on much smaller horses compared to the powerful and larger horses used in competitive polo internationally.

What makes their journey even more remarkable is the significance of representation. “We are proud to be the first Muslim girls from Ladakh to learn and play polo,” the duo added. The PBG told that Rehana Akhtar won ‘Best Student’, while Stanzin Nyidon bagged the award for ‘Most Promising Student’ of the outreach programme.

As Berwal noted, such efforts are vital for the sport’s growth and inclusivity, aligning with the PBG’s legacy as the torchbearer of Indian polo.

A nostalgic homecoming & a positive outlook ahead

The President’s Polo Cup is more than a tournament; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of polo in India. Players like Jaisal Singh, who learned the sport at the PBG Parade Ground, regard it as a “breeding ground of modern Indian polo.”

“So the president’s bodyguard holds a very special place in my heart. I learned how to ride horses here on this very ground. I learned how to play polo here. And the former commandant of the president’s bodyguard was my first coach for polo,” Singh, who leads the SUJÁN Indian Tigers Polo team, told .

For veterans like Samir Suhag, a +2 handicap player and 2012 Arjuna awardee, the PBG is synonymous with Indian polo’s golden era: “There was a time when complete polo was run here.”

“I remember in the 1980-90s, we all grew up here. We played cycle polo, horse polo, jumping, and dressage. I mean, everything was here. So there’s a lot of memories with this place and there are some fabulous times we had,” reminisced Suhag.

Highlighting this aspect of the PBG, Suhag told , “This is what kept polo going for almost 25 odd years. And we couldn’t have had polo in India if they [PBG] weren’t there. They kept the game alive.”

“I hope as time goes on, polo is revived more, both in the Indian Army and at the PBG,” Simran added. The 2024 President’s Polo Cup was more than a celebration of sport; it was a reaffirmation of the PBG’s role in Indian polo’s past, present, and future.

As Jai Shergill aptly put it: “Thank God, PBG is back. We wish them all the luck in the future.”

has previously delved into India’s rich polo heritage, exploring the sport’s challenges:

Polo, India’s royal sport, is experiencing a resurgence with growing players, sponsors, and global partnerships.@_anmol_singla, who recently attended Sir Pratap Singh Polo Cup, writes on the game’s evolution, challenges, and future in India.https://t.co/9K6Xb1qn5r

— Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 21, 2024

In another feature, also brought out the Indian Army’s role in sustaining polo:

Despite its royal roots, the sport of polo faces modern challenges, relying on private sponsorship and grassroots efforts to grow@_anmol_singla looks at how the Indian Army sustains the legacy of polo in India

Read 👇https://t.co/BD3lI9BT7e

— Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 5, 2024

This feature adds another layer to the narrative, celebrating the PBG’s indelible mark on polo and its commitment to preserving this legacy for generations to come. Modern polo having birthed in the subcontinent, is considered India’s ‘gift to the world’.

(The author attended The President’s Polo Cup, held at the President’s Bodyguard Parade Ground at the Ridge Forest in New Delhi on December 14, 2024.)

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