USA Triumphs in International Arena Polo Championship at Hyderabad, India

Friday, May 24, 2024

Polo teams from both the men’s and women’s divisions arrived at the Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club (HPRC) in Hyderabad, India, representing various countries. The initial agenda included simultaneous tournaments for women and mixed teams. However, after the withdrawal of the French and Spanish women’s teams, the organizers merged the events into a single tournament. Consequently, two teams each from India and the USA competed alongside squads from Spain and Luxembourg.

The event also featured a women’s exhibition match to honor International Women’s Day, aligning with the US’s Women’s History Month. This special match saw American players teaming up with Indian counterparts in a spirited and competitive showcase.

The tournament, structured as a six-team elimination competition, saw USA-1, comprising Jake Klentner, Sloane Stefanakis, Megan Flynn, and Luke Klentner, advance to the finals after defeating teams from India and Spain. India-2 reached the finals by overcoming challenges from Luxembourg and USA-2, featuring Caroline Vissers, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Peck, and Dorn Cox.

The final match attracted a record audience and included VIP attendees such as IPS Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad K. Sreenivasa Reddy, and US Consul General Jennifer Larson, who were visibly engrossed in the match.

In the championship final, USA-1 secured a 3-2 lead in the first chukker and increased the lead to 12-6 by the end of the second, adding three more goals in the final chukker for a decisive 15-8 victory. Stefanakis and Klentner scored seven goals each while Flynn finished with one goal. Luke Klentner also played in the final splitting a position with his older brother. “I feel lucky to have been part of such an amazing experience,” said Flynn. “The warm welcome from the polo club and the size of the support they had blew me away.”

Event organizers, including Ed Armstrong from the American International Polo Foundation (AIPF) and HPRC President Chaitania Kumar, ensured the tournament’s fairness and high standards by engaging Robin Sanchez, a USPA Professional Umpire. Plans to continue employing professional umpires and host umpiring clinics at the club were discussed.

“What a stand-out event for arena polo! The footing was some of the best I’ve ever experienced, and the promotion and publicity was unparalleled. It was truly a gold-standard event at Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club.” – Robin Sanchez, professional arena umpire and chairman of USPA arena committee.

The level of sportsmanship and the value of the international sport experience made the trip a memorable experience for all involved. Some of the thoughts and comments of USA players:

“What an incredible team and trip this was! What Chaitania has created and continues to grow is an absolute landmark of polo and equestrian sport in the East.” – Dr Elizabeth (Lizzy) Peck

“It was an honor and privilege to join such a great delegation of players from around the world to both compete and create lasting friendships. Hats off to the HRPC, USPA and organizers and all who made the event possible and enabled us all to promote the sport we love in a world class facility in the country where modern polo was born.” – Dorn Cox, Massachusetts

“This tournament was a fantastically unique blend of pride in representing my own country and appreciation of foreign cultures. Beyond the rich foods and beautiful textiles of India, I especially enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences in how polo is played abroad. The pride taken in the horses was shown with unique tail haircuts and the touching ears of Indian blooded horses emphasize the long history of horses in Indian culture. This experience opened my eyes to the depth of polo culture around the world and will forever be a cherished memory.” – Caroline Vissers, California

“This was an incredible experience that I got to share with great people. There is nothing better than traveling to new places, competing, and making friends with people on the other side of the globe.” – Jake Klentner, California

“It was an unforgettable unimaginable trip, thank you to Ed Armstrong for facilitating everything. It truly was the trip of a lifetime and getting to know all of the players better was an absolute pleasure.” – Luke Klentner, California

“I feel so blessed to have been a part of a tournament and event surrounded by such wonderful people. From the people who organized to the people who participated, I could not feel anymore grateful than I am reflecting on Hyderabad. Polo is so beautiful because it’s such a center of gravity for so many people across the planet and being able to participate in a tournament that I feel perpetuates such grace and generosity within the sport and outside of it makes me happy beyond words. Thank you, Hyderabad Polo and Riding Center, for such a fantastic time.” – Sloane Stefanakis, Texas

Ed Armstrong praised the support from the USPA International Committee and USPA Global Licensing, acknowledging their contributions to international polo. He also thanked Robin Sanchez for her pivotal role in enhancing the tournament’s quality. Armstrong highlighted his collaboration with HPRC President Chaitania Kumar, noting their long-term partnership in organizing these events and their latest successful endeavor. He expressed hope for hosting future international tournaments at HPRC, including the prestigious FIP World Arena Championship.

The tournament results were as follows:

• Spain defeated USA-2 with a score of 12-8.
• India-2 triumphed over Luxembourg with a score of 15-5.
• USA-1 won against HPRC India-1 with a score of 10-6.
• In a rematch, USA-1 bested Spain with a score of 13-9.
• India-1 dominated Luxembourg, winning 12-4.
• India-2 defeated USA-2 with a score of 12-7.
• In the final showdown, USA-1 claimed victory over India-2 with a score of 15-8.

Megan Flynn of the USA team earned the title of Most Valuable Player in the finals.