The Great Game

"Let other people play other things – the king of games is still the game of kings"

What is it like to play polo? Imagine a ball hit so hard ... that it comes at you at a speed of 110 miles per hour, so fast, you can hardly see it. Your job is to stay at a gallop, get your polo pony in line with the ball, and either pass it ahead to a teammate, or carry the ball down the field for an attempt at goal.

Polo is thought to have originated in China and Persia around 2,000 years ago. The name of the game may well come from the word “pholo” meaning 'ball' or 'ballgame' in the Balti language of Tibet. The first recorded game took place in 600BC between the Turkomans and Persians.

In Pakistan polo has its roots deeper than deep. The Moguls were largely responsible for taking the game from Persia to the east and, by the 16th century, the Emperor Babur had established it in sub-continent. Now polo is being played in remote as well as urban areas of Pakistan. Lahore Polo Club seems to be taking this game to the new levels, so is other clubs like Rawalpindi Polo Club, striving to keep the game alive in urban life... Where as its been played at the highest polo field of Shandur around 12500 feet high between traditional rivals of Gilgit & Chitral.

Taken: Rawalpindi Polo Club, Race Course Ground, Pakistan.

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