Cycle polo makes a comeback

MYSORE: Students riding a cycle with a stick in one hand and hitting a ball while balancing the cycle with the other hand is a common sight during early mornings at the Manasagangotri village hostel in the city. What you see is children playing cycle polo, a sport similar to polo.
Traditional cycle polo, a team sport in which India won a gold medal for three consecutive years in the international cycle polo championship from 1999, has made a comeback in the city.Both boys and girls are coming forward to learn the sport.
Since 2000, Karnataka Cycle Polo Association (KCPA) has been leaving no stone unturned to make the game popular in the city. Apart from regular practice during the academic year, the association has come up with free training this summer vacation. Cycle polo has been part of Dasara sports for two years now.
Over 30 children between the age group of 11years and 21 years are trained every day. Coach Mahesh MR told TOI: Many children are keen on learning the sport.''
To play in the team, players must undergo rigorous practice. For the first few days, players are trained to cycle, then to balance riding cycle with one hand, then balance riding with polo stick in hand and then hitting the ball.
Ten-year old Priyanka M who has represented Karnataka in under-14 tournaments said: "Earlier I used to be nervous that I would fall and get hurt. Now, I don't and I feel that every school must have a cycle polo team."
In the past five years, about 10 girls and 20 boys from the city have represented Karnataka in the national-level tournaments.
But cycle polo is not part of school games. It is not compulsory in schools to have a cycle polo team. KCPA general secretary Vijayalakshmi A Patil said the government must include this under school sports. There has been good response for the sport in Mysore," she said.
About the game
Cycle polo is a team game with eight players in each team. While four players play on ground, the remaining four are reserved. The game is played in four sets, with each set lasting 7 minutes. A cycle with any attachment like stand, mud guard, bell or carrier is not allowed.