TEAM USPA WOMEN HEADLINES 1st MANIPUR STATEHOOD DAY WOMEN’S POLO TOURNAMENT, JANUARY 17-21, 2016
1st INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S POLO TEAM IN INDIA WILL PLAY EXHIBITION GAME IN JAIPUR ON JANUARY 24
The Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur will present the 1st Manipur Statehood Day Women’s Polo Tournament that will begin on January 17 and end on Statehood Day, January 21, 2016, at Mapal Kangjeibung Polo Ground in Imphal, Manipur. The tournament will be played with four women’s polo teams from Manipur with Team USPA Women as international guests. The tournament is organized by the All Manipur Polo Association.
“We are pleased to observe Manipur’s historic Statehood Day with this women’s polo tournament that will feature Team USPA Women, the first international women’s polo team to come to India,” said Nidhi Mani Tripathi, Secretary (Tourism), Government of Manipur. “Polo as an international game that has its birthplace in Manipur, has been at the forefront of Manipur Tourism’s campaign for tourism in a new era, starting with our fraternal collaboration with polo in Rajasthan.”
The project is presented in association with Huntre!Adventures of USA and India which initiated the project as a way to develop Manipuri polo and polo tourism. Team USPA Women will play in an exhibition game sponsored by the Rajasthan Polo Club and Rajasthan Tourism during the Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh Cup on January 24.
Team USPA is a special nationwide program of the United States Polo Assocation to prepare selected young players for professional careers in polo. Team USPA Women in Manipur will feature Cristina Fernandez, Tiamo Hudspeth, Carly Persano, Julia Smith and will be led by Steven Armour of the National Board of Governors of the USPA. “We look to Manipur to lead our new initiative to help build Indian women’s polo as it is the only Indian state to have women polo teams. We will also be conducting a one-day polo clinic for the Manipuri players,” said Armour.
“It is the first public commemorative event for our Statehood Day after many years, and special to AMPA as we celebrate 60th “Diamond Jubilee” Anniversary this year,” said Dr. R.K. Nimai Singh, Consultant to the Government of Manipur and Vice-President of AMPA. The tournament is the first international women’s tournament in India. “We have had women’s polo tournaments in Manipur but this is the first time international players will be coming to play.” added Sarat Konsam, President of AMPA. The project has been organized in association with Huntre!Adventures which has been bringing USPA to play in Manipur at the International Manipur Tournament during the Manipur Sangai Festival for the last three years. “The USPA introduced goal handicap team play to Manipur and now we look forward to helping develop women’s polo in Manipur,” said Edward J. Armstrong, principal of Huntre!Adventures, and member of the USPA International Committee.
Team USPA Women events in Imphal and Jaipur are supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Incredible India!, Manipur Tourism, Rajasthan Tourism, Rajasthan Polo Club, USPA, and Four Points by Sheraton, Starwood Hotels.