Sagol Kangjei today's Polo

Mother of Modern Polo

 

Sagol kangjei of Manipur

 

          Sagol Kangjei is the name of the game of today’s modern polo introduced by the king Khagemba of Manipur in 1606 in this territory. Manipur was the forerunners of invention of hockey. There is no other country in the world, where hockey is played on foot and horseback. It is a team sport played on horseback. Sagol means pony/horse,  kang means a ball or round object and ‘jei’ means a stick used for hitting. It has been a game of common man and a seasonal game in Manipur. It is played in Manipuri month of Mera(September/October) and ends in the month of Ingen(June/ July).

 

Players on action

 

There are no goal posts, player scores simply by hitting the ball out of either end of the field. The traditional attire consists of a chin-strap It is traditionally played with seven players to a side mounted on ponies. There are no goal posts, a (khadangchet) turban for protecting the head,  legguards (khongyom) worn below the knee. Since no shoes are worn, the players use khumit-khang. Polo has for time immemorial, been a game of royalty and the upper crust of the society, not only in India but abroad.

 

 



courtesy: e-pao -net

         Manipur had a well  known polo gound within the  ramparts of their Kangla Fort called Mapan Kangjeibung. All the tournaments sagol Kangjei of Manipur are played in this ground. International polo tournament are also played in this ground for every year.