Please see an email from Manipur Polo Club below; 

If you have interest in this opportunity  as an individual or a team please contact emma@dormer.co.nz by 1 July. If there is more than one team interested the NZ selectors will help decide which team/individuals best fits this opportunity.

Warm Greetings from the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association.

The Manipur Polo International is an invitational Polo Tournament held every year from November 22 to 29 during the Manipur State Tourism Festival, which popularly called 'Sangai Festival'.

The Tournament organized by the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association (MHRPA) is played on the Manipuri ponies, the original polo pony at Mapal Kangjeibung, the oldest living pologround in the world.

The organisers extend invitation to polo players and polo playing nations to take part in the tournament, which is conducted to accommodate willing players from around the globe during the festive season of our people.

I am enclosing the Prospectus of the Tournament for your information and hopefully we would be delighted to have a team from New Zealand this year.

Regards 

Ibungouchoubi 

For further communication, please send your queries to emma@dormer.co.nz

PROSPECTUS

14 th MANIPUR POLO INTERNATIONAL

 (NOVEMBER 22 – 29, 2022) 

Organised by:

Manipur Horse Riding & Polo Association (MHRPA) 

The Manipur Polo International is the only International Open Invitation Polo Tournament played on the Manipuri Pony, the original Polo Pony, under the IPA rules (with some local adjustments).

The Tournament is organized with the prime objectives of conserving the Manipuri Pony and 

preventing its extinction, popularize the game in its place of origin and making Manipur a Polo 

Tourist destination. It is also an opportunity to allow polo players from around the world to join 

the celebration by taking part in the game of “Sagol Kangjei".

Now, the Tournament has become an integral part of the Sangai Festival – the State’s Tourism 

Festival organized every year during November 21 to 30 at Imphal.

Conduct of tournament:

The Tournament will be conducted under rules of Indian Polo Association (IPA) with some local 

amendments. As a unique feature of the tournament, the players shall be mounted exclusively on Manipuri Pony (Height 12-13 hands).

Teams: Five players and one Manager/Coach. 

Journey:

The teams are to meet the to and fro journey expenses up to Imphal by 

themselves. The teams are to arrange for VISA clearance for visiting India. No separate 

permission is required for visiting Imphal, Manipur (India) once VISA is obtained. 

Hospitality: 

All the teams, including family members will be taken care of from the time of arrival at Imphal till their departure. All the expenditure of Board and Lodging of the teams, their family members and their travel during the tournament will be borne by the MHRPA. All the players are to inform and furnish the details of the the family members accompanying them to witness the tournament. 

Handicap: 

The tournament will be an open one and no handicapping rules shall be applied. Manipuri 

players are not officially assessed for handicapping by the IPA. However, 8 to 10 Goal team is 

expected to offer the spectators competitive and exciting matches. 

Play: 

The tournament shall be played on league cum knock-out basis. Each play of the Tournament shall be of 4 Chukkers of 7 minutes each. An extra Chukker will be played with a Golden Goal norm in the event of a tie in the Knock out phase arises.

Mounts: 

Each team shall be allotted a group of 10 Ponies before every match by lot. To give equal 

opportunities to both the teams, the ponies shall be exchanged at the half time. No ponies will 

play two Chukkers consecutively. A veterinary team shall inspect the ponies to check their 

fitness before and during the matches. The ponies shall be numbered. 

Venue: 

The matches shall be played at the historic Mapal Kangjeibung, the oldest living Pologround of the world, the present size of the Pologround is 190 meters x 90 meters. 

Date of submission of entries:

All entries of participating teams should reach the Hony. President, Manipur Horse Riding & 

Polo Association on or before 30 September, 2022 along with names of players and their 

passport details. 

Draws: 

The teams will be divided into two Pools and the draw for the tournament shall be conducted by 

the Organizing Committee on November 20, 2022. The Organizing Committee reserves the 

right to alter the date/timings owing to administrative or other unavoidable circumstances. 

Umpires & Referees: 

An Umpiring Panel shall be drawn by the Organizing Committee from amongst the officials and players of the Participating teams. The teams will be expected to submit the names of the players who would volunteer to conduct the matches as Umpires and Commentators. 

All teams are requested to bring two National Flags (Size 6 ft x 4 ft and 5 

ft x 3 ft). The teams should take part in the March Past on the Opening Ceremony to be held 22nd November at the Main Venue. The Flags will be retained by the Association as a Souvenir of the Organising Committee.

Dress code: 

Players and Umpires will be required to strictly adhere to the dress code on the field. All the 

players should be present in the Team Uniform on the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. All the 

teams will accept Trophies and Participating Certificates on the Closing Ceremony on 29th 

November 2022 at the main venue. Hence all the players must attend the Closing Ceremony in 

their respective team uniforms. 

All the teams should bring two sets of (uniforms) shirts. The teams are advised to bring one Light colour and one Dark colour. This is in view of the Teams with similar colour. 

The players are to bring their own personal and necessary equipments. Polo sticks of (46" to 48") are advised as per the height of the local ponies. The Organising Committee will make arrangements for extra polo sticks and whips at the venue 

Accommodation: The details of the hotels will be furnished to the teams well in advance. 

All the players and family members are advised to bring formal dresses as ceremonial occasions and official functions are held during the 

tournament. Men are advised to bring coat or jacket and neck or bow tie.

All the players are advised to arrive at Imphal on 20th November 2022. 

The players will avail the opportunity to practice on the Manipuri ponies on 20th and 21st November. 

Day temperature at Imphal during last week of November will be around 19 to 21 Degrees 

Celsius. However the night temperature will fall to 6 - 8 Degrees Celsius. For a comfortable stay 

warm clothes are advisable. All are advised to bring sun strokes (sun screen or lotions as they 

are called in different countries) 

All queries regarding the conduct of the tournament and any other clarification be addressed the 

undersigned. 

(H. Deleep Singh) 

Hony. President 

MHRPA 

Article added: Sunday 05 June 2022