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• #2
Well......its probably a lot safer than Elephant polo. But seriously, it is really cool that they are bringing sports like that into schools, I wish they would have done stuff like that over here when I was at school.
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Loads more about india cycle polo on this blog:
http://cyclepolo.wordpress.com/
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About
Indian Bicycle Polo
Posted by
@Buffalo_Bill
Saw this news item whilst I was out there:
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/22/stories/2008082250740200.htm
**Keeping tradition alive with cycle polo
**Shankar Bennur * The game is very popular in Rajasthan
Chandargi village sports school has popularised it
** Rekindling the Ancient sport: A game of cycle polo in progress in Mysore. ** MYSORE: Last Sunday, Mysore hosted a rare sports event that has a history of over a hundred years. A game which is still popular in North India and North Karnataka.
Cycle polo, a sport similar to horse polo, uses cycles instead of horses.
This game kept the erstwhile Maharajas fit whenever their horses were rested.
Karnataka Cycle Polo Association (KCPA), an affiliate body of Cycle Polo Federation of India (CPFI), thought fit to introduce the game in Mysore, so that interested people could take up the game.
“It is an ancient sport and is still alive. It is very popular in North India, especially in Rajasthan. To keep the tradition going, the federation conducts national and State-level competitions of cycle polo every year,” said Association General Secretary Vijayalakshmi A. Patil.
Making it popular
Talking to The Hindu, Ms. Patil said the sport is popular in the districts of Dharwad, Belgaum and Bijapur, thanks to the sports school at Chandargi village of Belgaum district. “The school is in the forefront of popularising the sport in the State,” she said.
Categories
The event in Mysore was conducted in the categories of sub-junior; junior and senior. “The event attracted over 60 participants. The sport enthusiasts in Mysore had even participated in the national and State-level events,” she said.
The CPFI is recognised by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of India. It enjoys affiliation with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and is a member of the Asian Cycle Polo Federation and the International Bicycle Polo Association.
Needs encouragement
“The Government of Karnataka must encourage the sport by holding events annually. It requires coaching and support to schools to encourage children to take it up as it is very good to keep fitness levels high,” Ms. Patil said.