CPFI launches first Cycle Polo League
The Cycle Polo Federation of India — the apex body for the sport in the country, on Saturday launched the first ever Cycle Polo League. The inaugural League, aimed to bring the game of cycle polo to the forefront and make it a mass sport, will be played between November 25 to 29 at the Rajasthan Polo Club, Jaipur. The IAF will lead in assisting the same along with CPFI’s member state associations.
The League will see five teams battle it out to be crowned champions. It will feature of total of 40 Indian players chosen after a rigorous selection process on the basis of their performance at the National and Federation Cup Championships. Ten foreign players will also be a part of the league from countries like France, England, Malaysia and Ireland. Each team in the league will comprise of 6 Indians and 2 foreign players.
“It is a very important development for the game of Cycle Polo in India. After participating and winning medals in seven World Cycle Polo Championships it was high time that the game got its due recognition and I believe the Cycle Polo League is the first step in that direction,” Air Marshal P.P. Bapat said.
India has been a gold medallist in the five Cycle Polo World Championships that they have participated in and a bronze medallist on the two other occasions. Amongst the Indian players, there will be a plethora of India internationals which includes the likes of Assarudeen Sha, Sagar Deshmukh and Vishnu S from the Indian Air Force; Anshad A, Shanoj AR, Anfar J and Harshal Bagde from the Territorial Army and Piyansh Sinha and Santosh Rao from the Army.
There will be a total of 13 games in the league. The games will be played in the same format as all national and international competitions. There will be 4 Chukkers of 7:30 minutes each. Each side will be comprise of four players. After every goal the side will be changed.
The winners of the league can take home a prize money of `2 lakh and runner’s up will be awarded a prize money of `1 lakh. Similarly top player of the league, Golden Mallet and Golden Cycle of the League, will get an award of `25, 000 each.