Kolkata: Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have been facing each other quite a lot of times in recent times. From their double encounters in the ICC Champions Trophy, ICC Women’s World Cup and just when you thought that it was over, there comes polo, where the Indians beat Pakistan 8-7 in a qualifying match of the Polo World Cup in Tehran on Friday.
India scored quick goals and put Pakistan under pressure from the beginning itself but the latter fought back well to tie the game at 7-7 in the last chukker. However Dhruvpal Godara scored a goal towards the end courtesy a penalty to secure a win and book a spot for India in the World Cup Polo Championship which is to be held in Sydney in October.
Earlier, India in it’s first match beat Iran 10-8 and then defeated South Africa 6-5 in their second game. Padmanabh Singh scored a golden goal in sudden death to lead India to victory in it’s second match.
The World Cup Polo Championship, a 14- goal tournament is conducted every three years by the The Federation of International Polo (FIP).
The members countries of the FIP compete in this tournament. One country from every zone gets to play the finals as the elimination rounds take place on a zonal basis. India have made it to the tournament from Zone E.
The first World Cup Polo Championship was held in the year 1985 and was hosted by Argentina who have been champions for four times.
The winning Indian team in Tehran-Col Ravi Rathore (captain); Dhruvpal Godara; Angad Kalaan; Siddhant Sharma; Padmanabh Singh; Pranav Kapur; Uday Kalaan (coach)