NEW DELHI: The Indian Polo Association and Pro Sportify Ventures have announced the Indian Arena Polo League, starting September.
This is the second sports league that Pro Sportify will be mounting after the underwhelming Pro Wrestling League, which concluded its fourth season on January 31.
For the record, PWL’s Haryana Hammers franchise beat Punjab Royals in the summit clash to win the season 4 title in Greater Noida and the Rs 19 million winners cheque. PWL has had Sony Pictures Network India as its broadcast partner from the inaugural season on.
Coming back to the Indian Arena Polo League, a joint announcement was made on the occasion of the Cavalry Gold Cup, when chief of Army staff and president of IPA, General Bipin Rawat and the QMG Lt. Gen Amre, chief steward and vice president of IPA, met Kartikeya Sharma, founder and promoter of Pro Sportify ventures, as also news media company ITV Media Network.
During the ceremony, Gen Rawat handed over the ceremonial Arena Polo ball to Sharma to signify that now Pro Sportify Ventures will carry it forward.
The Indian Arena Polo League will be played between 6 teams in the arena polo format which is a short format of the game and will showcase the fast paced format of professional polo.
There will be both Indian and International players participating in the game. The arena polo format is a shorter form of polo with small ground, colored clothing and played with bigger sized balls.
The Polo league has the stated aim of offering an “ideal mix of sport, fashion and lifestyle”.
Speaking at the event, Sharma said: “Polo in India has been synonymous with royalty. Patrons of polo across the globe will now have a chance to own polo teams in the Indian arena Polo League and be a part of a new emerging sports and lifestyle business.”
IPA honorary secretary Col. Ravi Rathore told Exchange4Media: “We are happy to announce the Indian Arena Polo League, we have been working closely with Pro Sportify Ventures, as they have been doing a stellar job in growing and promoting professional sports in India. This will be another feather in their cap and I congratulate Mr. Kartikeya Sharma for its vision, passion, and commitment.”
Pro Sportify Ventures founder and promoter Kartikeya Sharma added: “Polo in India has been synonymous with royalty, Patrons of Polo across the globe will now have a chance to own Polo teams in the India Polo League and be a part of a new emerging sports and lifestyle business.”
