INTERVIEW
Red-Letter Day Experience which included an option for polo for beginners,” said Vivek. “As it was only around the corner from my home, I thought I would give it a go. I was always looking for something new to do.” That innocuous present ignited a passion
A
for polo that burns as brightly today, almost a decade later. The team at Ascot Park, the home of that Discover Polo Experience, could not have hoped for such a positive reaction. “After some time on a crate and a bit of riding on schoolmaster ponies in the arena we had a mini chukka,” recalled Vivek. “I may not have ridden before, but one thing I can do well is hit a ball as I play a lot of other sports. And after I scored my first goal that was it – I was hooked. Although my wife though that I was completely crazy as I had no riding experience!” Despite Shenila’s misgivings, Vivek booked
a private lesson with Victoria Grace for the following day and the rest is history. Within weeks he was playing in his first arena tournament and had started to buy ponies. “It was a whirlwind romance – in three months I had created my own team, Tashan Polo. Tashan colloquially means panache or ‘my style’ in Hindi. And I believe that I introduced the colour orange into polo. Lots of people use it now, but when I started out I had to place a special order for my orange bandages. “Polo has everything that I look for in a
sport; the adrenaline, team play – a bat and ball sport effectively - and it was something that I could see myself and my family being involved in, not only on the field, but socially too. “Until that point, the only sports that I had
played at the highest level were hockey and squash and I was a qualified coach in both, as well as playing for my university [Cambridge]. My family has always been involved in sports - this
birthday present led to a complete life change for Club Patron and Board Director Vivek Rawal. “I received a
“I MAY NOT HAVE RIDDEN BEFORE, BUT ONE THING I CAN DO VERY WELL IS HIT A BALL – MY HAND AND EYE CO-ORDINATION IS VERY GOOD AS I PLAY A LOT OF OTHER SPORTS. AFTER I SCORED MY FIRST GOAL THAT WAS IT – I WAS HOOKED”
year my younger brother, Kunal, is the youngest ever men’s captain at Wentworth.” Vivek’s rise in polo is equally impressive.
After his introduction to the sport at Ascot Park, Vivek became a Home Elected Player (HEP) at Guards Polo Club in 2010 and was elected to the Board of Directors four years later. Now he is introducing his young sons, 13-year-old Shrey and nine-year-old Rishya, to the game, helping their school (Hall Grove) to develop its polo and working closely with Guards Polo Club to develop its own youth playing opportunities. “I did a lot of work on the Youth Committee
to try and encourage the next generation,” explained Vivek. “Part of my role on the Club’s Finance Committee was to streamline the treatment of our youth players and young professionals to help enable them to follow whichever polo path they choose. Our younger members are a big part of the Club’s tournaments and we should be encouraging that side of polo. “I love that my children can walk into
Guards Polo Club and feel special. Events like the Guards La Aguada Youth Tournament helps in that regard and both my boys have been playing in that for the past two years and they love it. They are already asking me for the dates for this year! “SUPA [Schools and Universities Polo] is
one of the fastest growing sports associations in the country and so, in percentage terms, year-on-year growth shows it’s thriving. Of course, I appreciate Guards Polo Club is at the top of the pyramid and what we are talking about is grassroots polo at the bottom and it’s difficult for this Club to cater directly for that market. However, I do strongly believe that Guards Polo Club should
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