The inaugural Ahmedabad Polo Tournament concluded dramatically with Pune Warriors narrowly defeating Mayfair Polo 8-7 in a sudden-death “golden chukker” at the Gujarat Polo Club. This event marked a significant revival of polo in Gujarat through the adoption of arena Polo—a faster, more spectator-friendly format played on a smaller enclosed field with fewer players and a softer ball. Spearheaded by Jayvirsinh Gohil, Gujarat’s only professional polo player, the tournament aims to rekindle the state’s rich equestrian heritage and make polo more accessible and commercially viable by mimicking the excitement and engagement of modern sports leagues.

The “Gujarat Model” of arena Polo reduces land and cost barriers, making it easier for beginners and audiences to connect with the sport, and is seen as a blueprint for expanding polo across India. With strong support from players like Dino Dhankhar and patrons like Anay Shah, who emphasize the sport’s cultural significance and potential, Ahmedabad is poised to become Western India’s polo hub. The tournament’s success signals a promising future for polo’s resurgence in the region, blending tradition with innovation to reclaim Gujarat’s legacy as a key player in Indian and global polo.