The Leela Cup partners with Sawai Padmanabh Singh to promote Polo

What is it about polo at Jaipur? What makes it such a perfect picture? Is it the handsome steeds running on the course, or the equally stately players putting on a good show? Perhaps it is the elite crowd of Jaipur, invested in the game like it belongs to them, on first name basis with the players, some of whom include members of the Jaipur royal family?

At the Leela Jaipur Polo Cup held recently, as the white ball was hit by the mallet from one end of the field to the other, it was good to see Jaipur’s polo culture in full stride, with a crowd that knew the game as well as the players. Sure, the game was associated with the royals for the longest time, but it was once a game enjoyed by the local population of Manipur. Called ‘pulu’, or ‘kanjai bazee’ the game was then adapted by the British into the modern game of polo, played by colonial officers and erstwhile royal families of India.

The Jaipur royal family has been associated with the game of polo since the inception of the game in the country. The game follows seasons, and the crowd, a tight community that follows the sport in the country, travel around the country playing the game in different corners.

The game of polo, however, has a strong connection with the city, and this was very visible as the whole community came together to support their teams on the field. Sawai Padmanabh Singh highlighted the importance of events such as the Leela Polo Cup in elevating the experience of those visiting Jaipur saying, “I’ve worked with the Leela group, they’re fantastic people, with a true vision for democratising the arts.

And a lot of the conversations we have had is how do we elevate every single person’s experience who comes to the city? Someone has been once for a wedding, couple of times to see some sights, but what will bring them back? The last year or so has been about bringing them back. I have been part of curating these wonderful experiences, whether that is art or craft, and now polo.”

He added saying, “How do we bring the right people with the right ideas? Jaipur has been a melting pot for contemporary thoughts, the person who built it 300 years ago, Sawai Jai Singh, wanted it to be that.” Sawai Padmanabh Singh is not just a member of the royal family, but a passionate sportsman at that, who has taken it as his personal mission to popularise the sport, and also revive the aesthetic and lifestyle that the game is associated with. After all, it isn’t called a game of the royals for nothing.