Home to the highest polo ground in the world at Shandur, Pakistan only has one polo ground in its federal capital which opened at the Islamabad Club in 2014.
The ground was inaugurated by former president Mamnoon Hussain, and includes an academy run by former Argentinean polo player Matias de Olmos, where more than two dozen students are trained.
The well-maintained grounds near the Pakistan Sports Complex were developed by an international firm. A member of the executive committee of the club told Dawn the grounds are one of the finest in the world.
He said the ground in Shandur is the highest in the world at 12,200ft, while the ground in Islamabad is considered one of the best in the world.
Tournaments have been held in the facility since it was launched and several championships have only recently concluded. The Margalla Cup is underway and several other championships are planned for this season, including the Potohar Cup, Khyber Cup and Ravi Challenge.
Some of the regular teams include Kalabagh, Asean, Hashoo, PBG and Shahtaj.
The facility also includes practice fields and stables. Horses belonging to individuals and groups are kept in these stables, where they are taken care of by trained staff.
“We have to take due care of the horses that take part in polo. We have to give them a proper diet, medicines if needed and regular baths, etc,” a club worker said.
A large number of horses are currently housed at the club as, the worker said, one player requires four horses for one game.
“We have to change horses every chukkar of the game,” a player said, who added that in the coming years several players who use the ground will play at an international level.
“We have some talented players here and I am sure this ground will produce some big names in the years to come,” he said.
Mohammad Asfandyar Khan, captain of the Kalabagh team, said that Islamabad-based players used to play at the Rawalpindi Polo Ground, which is the oldest in the country.
He said that since the development of the ground in Islamabad, polo is progressing more that it was in the garrison city.
“After playing the autumn season in Islamabad, our players are also participating in Lahore,” he said, adding that the club currently has a number of quality players who will excel further.
Aun Rizvi has at age of 17 been playing a leading role in securing victories for the various teams he plays for and just last month in the Boltoro Polo Cup in Islamabad, he hammered a hat-trick to help defeat Aesan.
He said polo is a game of passion and technique, and will see progress in Pakistan in the coming years.
Many diplomats, government officials, businesspeople and executives regularly come to watch the games and enjoy the beautiful grounds.
Pakistan has produced some of the best polo players including Podger Effendi and Vicky Effendi and the current top ranked Pakistan player is five-goaler Hissam Ali Hyder.
Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2018
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