Sports Articles

History of Polo

This is a relatively new sport, it has only been around for 160 years, but supposedly back in the XVI century in India a very similar sport was already being played. The origins of polo can be searched for in the Indian state of Manipur, between 300 A.C, when it was known by Sagol Kangjei. Some also claim to that its origins are Persian, and that it was called Pulu, between 525 A.C. Throughout the years it expanded to countries like Tibet, China, India and Japan, where a special form of polo took place; it was called dakyu in the VIII century. It then became very popular in India in the XVI century.

The modern story of Polo seems to begin during the decade of 1850, when some British officials destined to India learned to play it there. The first polo club of the modern age was called the Cachar Club, founded in Assam in 1859. It was first played in England in the year 1869, by officials of the cavalry of the Tenth Hussars. In the United States it was first played in the year of 1876.

Until 1880, Polo was played under a roof, from then on it was also played outside as well, this last one becoming the most common method. Every decision there is about Polo is managed by the Hurlingham Polo Association, which has governed this sport since the first day and until today, it has its main offices in London, England. Their first match was played in 1874 and they wrote a book of rules, made especially for England, in 1875.

Polo was included in the Olympic games of 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924 and 1936. In 1989 the first world championship took place. The Champion Cup was the first British tournament, which was played from 1876 to 1939. In 1956 British Open Championship, replaced the Champion Cup, and it is played every year to get the Cowdray Park Gold Cup, at Cowdray Park, Midhurst, Sussex. The first International match between England and the United States took place in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1886. The most prestigious trophy there is; is probably the American Cup between the United States and Argentina, which was first celebrated in 1928 and it has been won by Argentina most of the times.

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