Despite claims, polo is still only within the reach of the elite, as was seen during the recent play-offs in Lahore

YOU had to be someone to be at the recently concluded 7th International Polo Federation (FIP) Zone D playoffs, held for the first time in Pakistan, and, let’s say, genetically fastened to the sport to understand it. While many wished being ‘someone’ was important, others genuinely wanted to know what was meant by a tournament played on a round-robin basis. It was one of those moments when the city went polo-fetish, for all the right reasons though.

Reason number one was to be a part of nattily dressed people at the Lahore Polo Club. Reason number two was to park your car beside the socially and politically august number plates. Reason number three was to catch a glimpse of power-wielding men, power-struck women and across the Wagah royalty. And, reason number four was an honest attempt to cheer the Pakistan polo team once it was established that the game was being seriously played to get a place in the finals of the FIP sponsored world championship to be held in September 2004 in Chantille, France.

All the right reasons, they were, further justified when Pakistan won the playoff against India last Sunday. By that time, many knew that the term ‘round-robin’ meant all the participating teams would play against each other. Besides giving a week of equine exhilaration to polo lovers, the 7th International Polo Zone D playoffs made the game’s indifferents realize how important the event was for Pakistan’s post-9/11 image.

“We went to Argentina to bid for the zonal playoff in December 2001. It was after the 9/11 catastrophe which made other countries doubtful of security arrangements in Pakistan. Nobody was willing to accept our bid because of the conditions in Afghanistan. Eventually, our international polo friends, especially the Australians, convinced FIP not to let the threat of terrorism affect the game,” explained Ishaq Khan Khakwani, Pakistan’s ambassador to the Federation International Polo.

A keen polo player and member of the National Assembly, Mr Khakwani has been playing the game for the past 28 years. “General Khalid Naeem and I had President Musharraf’s permission to go to Argentina to bid. He had assured us of maximum support for the playoffs. We gave a presentation of our bid and showed them what the Lahore Polo Club had,” said Pakistan’s representative to FIP. “We showed them our three grounds, availability of more than 160 horses, a well-equipped club and our riding school,” continued Mr Khakwani.

The determining feature was the Ladies Polo Tournament held in March 2002 in Lahore. “It was the first time a ladies’ tournament was being held in Lahore. Helped by articles written by foreign correspondents, we sent the tournament’s photographs to FIP. That made them decide in our favour,” said Mr Khakwani.

The World Polo Association comprises four zones. Zone A consists of North America, Zones B and C are South America and Europe and Zone D constitutes Africa, Asia and Australia. “Two, top teams from each zone will participate in the finals held from September 9-20 in Chantille near Paris. Europe’s playoff has already taken place in which England has qualified. By next year, the zonal playoffs will be complete. The Zone D playoff is among the teams of Singapore, Iran, India, Australia and Pakistan,” revealed Mr Ishaq Khakwani.

Nearly 150 of the best-bred horses, required for the Zone D playoff, were provided by the Remount Depots of the Pakistan army. Each of the five participating teams was given 24 horses and five reserves. Abdul Haye Mehta, president of the Lahore Polo Club said that all the 150 horses taking part in the tournament were graded by the FIP. “Each pool was given 24 horses. Here I must give credit to the staff of the Polo Club for working round the clock to make this event successful,” expressed Mr Haye.

And working round the clock were 200 saes, 15 trainers, two horse shoemakers, and 12 grounds men tending the three grounds of the Lahore Polo Club. Away from the world of maharajahs, hefty credentials, high-tiered ranks and the general razzmatazz of the polo matches, the behind-the-scenes staff put in endless work hours with horses to prepare them for the gruelling competition.

Shaukat Ali has been grooming horses for 19 years now. He usually gets up at dawn to go to the stables at the Lahore Polo Club. “Whether there’s any tournament or not, for two hours I give a daily massage to two and sometimes three horses,” said a diffident Shaukat Ali, running his hands lovingly over a mare’s back. For the qualifying playoff, Shaukat would start the daily massage at 7am. They would then be handed over to one of the 15 trainers.

Forty-year-old Mohammad Aslam from Sargodha has been involved in one of the most strenuous aspects of polo that is training of horses, and ensuring that they do not baulk on the field. “Each horse takes a year to train. I have to make sure that the horse doesn’t lose control or become restless in a match. Every horse can’t be used for polo. Every day, I spend hours with the animal to understand its weaknesses and strength,” disclosed Mohammad Aslam.

But the saddest story clouding the entire colourful event was that of Mehmood who was aware of the social constraints disfavouring him to wear the national colours. He dreamt of playing for Pakistan, overcome by the desire to gallop intrepidly through the last chukkar of a momentous polo tournament. The next instant, he quickly repudiated himself. “Please don’t give my name, otherwise I’ll lose my job. I’m just joking,” pleaded Mehmood. Standing unnoticeably on the sidelines, he spent hours watching the polo players practice. For him riding a horse was as natural as breathing. “I’ve been riding since I was four and know that I can be a good player,” stated Mehmood remorsefully. “People like us are never encouraged. We’re not even noticed. Polo is a game of the rich and I can only afford to stand on the sidelines,” said a miserable sounding Mehmood.

Game of the rich, is it? That is not what the Polo Club management claims. It is for everybody. If that were so, let the game of polo devolve to the people standing as nonessential, sideline spectators.