1st Manipur Statehood Day Women's Polo Tournament
Date : January 17-21, 2016

1st MANIPUR STATEHOOD DAY WOMEN’S POLO TOURNAMENT,
JANUARY 17-21, 2016

USA/INDIA EXHIBITION GAME IN JAIPUR,
JANUARY 24, 2016

o 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.

o 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.

o 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.

o Manipur Tourism’s campaign includes sponsoring the Manipur Polo International Tournament (Men’s) as part of annual Manipur Sangai Festival every year from November 21-30. Its TEAM USPA WOMEN: MANIPUR-JAIPUR 2016 initiative links the sport of kings from the land of its birth to the land of Maharajas.

o It is conceived by Manipur Tourism, the United States Polo Association and management partner Huntre!Adventures, in association with Rajasthan Polo Club and Rajasthan Tourism, to develop Indian women's polo, which is still in its infancy, as well as brand Manipur for the new global era by promoting polo as an international game with its origins in Manipur.

o Team USPA Women will play in a mixed India/US exhibition game presented by the Rajasthan Polo Club and Rajasthan Tourism on the finals day of the Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh Cup on January 24. Team India will feature two Manipuri women polo players

o Manipur will be the theme of the cultural presentation at the games on the finals, with a performance of Manipuri percussion organized by the Department of Art and Culture. The same cultural troupe would be performing in the famous Jaipur Literature Festival

o The Tournament will be organized by AMPA. All Manipur Polo Association, established under the patronage of Maharaja Bodhchandra of Manipur in 1955, is celebrating its 60th “Diamond” anniversary. AMPA started the first polo tournament in Manipur in 1939 and has organized 37 tournaments to date. It introduced women’s polo in tournaments in 1993 and runs a year-round women’s polo clinic.

o With this visit, Team USPA continues to build its special relationship with Manipur that began in 2013, sponsoring the US men’s team to the Manipur International Polo Tournament every year since. Team USPA Women is its first women’s team to play internationally. The mission of Team USPA is to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American men’s and women's players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities.

o Team USPA Women in Manipur will feature Cristina Fernandez, Tiamo Hudspeth, Carly Persano, and Julia Smith. It will be led by Steven Armour, Governor-at-Large of the National Board of Governors of the USPA.

o TEAM USPA WOMEN: MANIPUR-JAIPUR 2016 is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Incredible India!, Manipur Tourism, Rajasthan Tourism, Rajasthan Polo Club, USPA, and Four Points by Sheraton, Starwood Hotels.

For more information, please contact the Department of Tourism.

sahakim5(at)gmail(dot)com
manipurfestival(at)gmail(dot)com