The Jindal Steel Indian Open Polo Championship final was a bittersweet one as the eviction notices issued to the Delhi Race Club and the Indian Polo Association (IPA) loomed darkly over it. As per a report by The Times of India , the Land & Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Urban Affairs has issued notices to both the Delhi Race Club and the IPA, asking them to vacate Jaipur Polo Ground and Delhi Race Course. The move drew strong reactions from the polo community present at the final. Naveen Jindal, Vice President of the Indian Polo Association, addressed the reports post game.‘THIS IS THE ONLY GROUND THAT THE INDIAN POLO ASSOCIATION HAS IN THE COUNTRY’Speaking about the issue after the game, Jindal said, “This (Jaipur Polo Ground) is a historic playground. We have received an eviction notice from the government stating that we must vacate the Jaipur Polo Ground within the next three days…Polo has been played here for over a century, including the iconic 1922 match between Jodhpur and Patiala that drew an extraordinary crowd of over 1.5 lakh spectators. This ground has welcomed some of the most eminent leaders of the country and remains the heart of Indian polo as the home of the Indian Polo Association. It is a heritage not only of Delhi, but of India. Polo is India’s gift to the world, and this is the only ground that the Indian Polo Association has in the country.” Calling the polo ground “the heart and lungs of the city” he added, “We have requested the government, and we are hopeful it will see reason. This ground is extremely important.This is an open space, and it matters. Polo is important for India’s heritage and culture, and we hope the government will view this sympathetically. Delhi cannot be the same without Jaipur Polo Grounds. We need your good wishes and prayers. I hope we can preserve this ground so that we can continue to play the sport.”The venue holds immense value for the entire polo community: Padmanabh SinghPadmanabh Singh, who was playing for Jaipur Optiemus Achievers and is a member of the Jaipur royal family, said, “Polo is truly a gift from India to the world, and the global growth of the sport owes a great deal to this country. Among the most iconic polo grounds in the world, Jaipur Polo Ground stands among the very best. Established by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh ji , this ground has been at the heart of the sport for over a century, hosting Indian and international players and some of the country’s most prestigious tournaments. For the entire polo community, this venue holds immense value generations of players, including us, have played here. Situated in the heart of Delhi, it is not only a historic sporting venue but also an important green space. I sincerely appeal to the polo community to come together to preserve and protect this ground so that we can continue to play here for the next hundred years.”
