With Captain Amarinder Singh back in the saddle as Punjab chief minister, the royal game of polo is set to stage a comeback in the city after a gap of 12 years.
The city is likely to host FIP Ambassador’s Cup or some other major events of the royal sport in September this year. For about a decade, the SAD-BJP promoted kabbadi and ignored polo events, which Amarinder had started in Patiala.
After Captain’s directions, the district administration has swung into action to prepare the game ground and make it functional before September, when the CM is likely to kick off a mega event in Patiala.
Currently, the Patiala Polo and Riding Club (PPRC), formed in 2004, is in ruins as no one played the royal game here for over a decade. The club is affiliated to the Indian Polo Association.
The SAD-BJP government did not spend a penny for promoting polo or other equestrian sports in Punjab. The new ground for the game has been lying in utter neglect and construction of the club building was never completed, as the SAD-BJP never released a penny for the purpose.
With change of regime, the ground is again abuzz with activity.The CM recently sent his principal secretary Tejvir Singh to chalk out a plan to prepare the ground before the end of the rainy season.
Tejvir personally inspected the ground and issued instructions to deputy commissioner Kumar Amit to develop it as per international standards.
The DC said, “The development work has been initiated and Rs 70 lakh will be spent in the next two months to complete the infrastructure as per international standards. The city is likely to host a mega polo event in September.”
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