Elephant Polo is a variant of regular polo which is played by the participants while sitting on the back of an elephant. It is a popular sport in Nepal, India, Thailand and England. The sport was modernized by the citizens of India and Nepal, where they use elephants instead of horses.
The equipment used in the sport consists of a standard polo ball and a cane stick of 6-10 feet with a mallet. Earlier, the soccer ball was used in this game which was later replaced by the polo ball. The major venue of the game is the Tiger Tops that witnesses the
World Elephant Polo Championships in Nepal. The
World Elephant Polo Association is the governing body for elephant polo.
Elephant Polo can be played by a team or individually. The object is to score a goal by hitting the ball with the mallet into the opponent team's goal post. At the end of the match, the team, which scores the maximum goals, ultimately wins the entire match.
During the match of elephant polo, two people ride each elephant; the Mahouts administer these elephants. The players never steer the elephants on their own; instead, they give directions to the mahout and hit the ball.
The elephant polo was originated in Nepal, Mehrauli, where the game was played for the first time. The idea was presented by two British entrepreneurs James Manclark and Jim Edwards.
The headquarters of elephant polo is situated in Tiger Tops, Nepal. Sri Lanka still held an annual tournament of elephant polo under the auspices of the Ceylon Elephant Polo Association in Galle. Unfortunately, in 2007, an elephant went on a rampage, two players were injured, and a Spanish team’s minibus was destroyed.
Yak Polo
It is a variation of polo in which players ride a yak. This is a common Mongolian sport.
Tuk-Tuk Polo
It is a rare polo sport in which players ride a vehicle known as tuk-tuk.
