New Delhi
Arjuna awardee and star Indian polo player Simran Singh Shergill asserts that expanding entry-level tournaments is crucial to broadening the talent pool and boosting the sport’s visibility in India, helping polo shed its niche status and reach a wider audience. In an exclusive interview with IANS, the polo veteran shed light on the game’s status in the country, the decline in the number of players, and how the introduction of more corporate leagues can change that status. Well, unfortunately, the number of players in polo in India, right now, has reduced. So, I think this is one of those things that polo goes through. Currently, the number of younger players and seniors has decreased, resulting in a slight reduction in overall player strength. But we have good young players coming through the system. So, hopefully, in a few years, we will have more players playing the game. But at the moment, we have a few, not so many, Shergill told IANS.
We need to have more tournaments of a lower level, not very high-goal tournaments. If we have more lower-level tournaments, it will be helpful. There will be more participation. People who are even lower in handicap can be placed in more competitive teams, and they have a good chance to win.
If we have more lower-level tournaments, it will be helpful. There will be more participation. People who are even lower in handicap can be placed in more competitive teams and they have a good chance to win. And have more tournaments with young players in every centre. There should be more junior tournaments, which will promote all these younger boys and give them a chance to play and come to the line right.
