Rama Krishna Sangem
Lakeside Polo Club, California: The eagerly awaited Buddy Combs International Arena Challenge lived up to its promise of delivering a thrilling contest between two powerhouses of polo, with Team USA narrowly defeating Team India 14-12 in an intense, high-energy match. It marked a memorable time for the sizable crowd that had gathered at Lakeside Polo Club, Lakeside, California, late Friday night.
(Arsala Khan is 2nd from left in the photo)
Representing the host were Nicole Bankhead (1 handicap), Robbie Pizarro (2 handicap) and David Brooks (3 handicap) who were pitted against an equally formidable Indian team, comprising Arsalan Khan (0 handicap), Chaitania R. Kumar (1 handicap), and Prithvi Rathore (1 handicap), said a press release from Snaps India news agency.
Incidentally, India went into the match with the scoreboard reading 4-0 in its favour, thanks to the four-goal handicap advantage it enjoyed. In fact, India held onto its own with some powerful showing in the first two chukkers, which it ended with a 9-7 score line in its favour.
Earlier, the event got off to a spectacular start when Robbie Pizarro scored a stunning two-point goal for the host. Making a match of it was the visiting team’s Chaitania Kumar (CK), who successfully converted two penalties—one from the two-minute mark and another in the fourth minute. The chukker ended 6-2 in favour of India.
Arsala Khan consolidates India lead
Continuing the fine run, India consolidated the lead after Arsalan Khan scored a brilliant field goal, followed by Prithvi Rathore, who converted a pass from Chaitania. However, Team USA riding on the shoulders of Pizarro dazzling, who struck a hat-trick of goals kept the scoreboard ticking, while Nicole Bankhead and David Brooks added one each. The chukker ended 9-7 in favour of India.
The competition gained momentum and reached an exciting phase in the third chukker following a fierce back-and-forth battle for supremacy. CK executed a spectacular neck shot from the 20-yard line, followed by another goal using the arena wall. For the USA outfit, Robbie scored two penalty goals and a telling long shot, while Brooks added another goal, bringing the score to a tantalizing 11-11 at the end of the chukker.
India, despite putting its best foot forward lost some steam by going too defensive in the fourth chukker. The host team seized the initiative to seal the exciting match 14-12.
However, India had some consolation as apart from CK coming up with five stunning, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award was given to Arsalan Khan for his outstanding defense and attacking play all through the see-saw battle for one-upmanship. Maco 2, ridden by Robbie Pizarro in the fourth chukker, was awarded the Best Pony honour.
Later, Robin Sanchez, USPA Arena Chairman, highlighted the historical significance of the tournament, stating, “India created the modern form of polo, while the USA invented arena polo. Bringing these two influential countries together in a challenge like this pushes the sport forward.”
Ed Armstrong, representing the American International Polo Foundation, and Col. Vikram Kahlon, Secretary of the Indian Polo Association, facilitated the event.
