Imphal: The second state women’s polo tournament began on Thursday at the Imphal polo ground with an appeal by Surjakumar Okram MLA to take care of the polo players and pony.
Surjakumar said modern polo originated in Manipur and time has come to preserve the polo journey as the number of ponies has declined.
He said it is the polo players who keep the game of polo alive as they nurture, maintain the horses.
There is a need to increase the grazing area, he further said.
Dr S Joykumar former President, Manipur Equestrian association said about two decades ago numbers of players and ponies were quite high but the pony has become an endangered species with a population of about 400 to 500 ponies at the moment he added.
Large numbers of sports personalities including Ksh Thoiba, Olympian, RK Tutusana, Director Manipur Police Training College were present as guests of honour to encourage the budding women polo players.
In the first match Laman Polo Club defeated K MMR School 8 – 2. Laman players managed to keep the pressure on the K MMR School by scoring two goals each in all the four chukker while K MMR School players managed to score one goal each in the second and fourth chukker.
The organizers said the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association organized the women championship for the second time to encourage women players.
To save the Manipuri pony and to prevent early castration of pony during the tournament the Manipuri Pony Society and Mangal Foundation will organise the second Stallion show on March 18 at the same venue to select best stallions of four years and above.
