Aspen Riding and Polo Academy India
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Story by Aryana Mohmood Photographs by Aspen Riding and Polo Academy
WHETHER LEARNING TO RIDE, PLAY POLO OR ENHANCE SKILLS THROUGH PLAYING AND PRACTICING GAMES AND CHUKKAs, THE ASPEN RIDING AND POLO ACADEMY IS AN IDEAL PLACE TO START.
THIS POLO CLUB OFFERS A DIVERSE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES ALLOWING MEMBERS TO ENJOY AND EXPERIENCE INDIA’S TRADITIONAL, MOST GRACEFUL AND EXHILARATING SPORT.
This polo club is located in New Delhi and is recognised by both Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) and the Indian Polo Association (IPA). Consisting of 25 young active polo players between 11 to 16 years old. These include polo grounds and fields equipped with the necessary resources to play games and an ideal venue for the ultimate polo experience.
It is run by professional players including Aroon Pal Singh, the polo captain and founder of the Aspen Riding and Polo Academy. Providing trails for daily riding, courses and lessons for amateur and advanced riders, it is suitable for people of all stages.
Aroon Pal Singh also holds a +4 player title and attributes his place in the sport to his forefathers. Though this sport has run through his family for generations, he understands that it takes much more perseverance and determination to master such a sport that has been mastered before. Mr Singh proclaimed that ‘there needs to be passion when playing the sport. It takes a long time to master and that is why without passion people won’t make it’.
As to why he is passionate about a sport that is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, he states that it stems from a deep seated ‘love for the animal and for the game’. Aaron Singh has won numerous tournaments, trophies and most notably he was part of the Seghal Stud Team that won the Commander Cup in 2013. The Commander’s Cup is a trophy owned by the Army and involves rival teams between the army and civilians.
He listed the three imperative properties people must acquire, in order to learn the sport such as, ‘money, time and fitness.’
There is no denying of the beauty and rush of the game, though it can seem expensive and at times known as an elitist sport. Mr Singh admits this notion to be true; however, emphasises that the situation can change.
He believes ‘with a surge in corporate sponsorship and the rising popularity of the game and audience commitment, such issues will have less impact’.
Mr Singh’s main wish for his club and the sport, is that it becomes India’s leading and national sport. He is positive about the future of polo and only hopes that increased corporate sponsorship and societal support trickles down more effectively.
