The first All Womens’ polo chukker was held last week at Jaipur Polo Grounds in New Delhi. Ms Shivani Wazir Pasrich was the Emcee and presenter of the evening and Mr. Sharad Saxena, the commentator.
The women players include Avshreya Rudy, a Mayo-ite with excellent riding skills and the daughter of the Hon’ble Minister for Skill Development Rajiv Pratap Rudy and golfing champion Neelam Rudy. Rina Shah who has a brilliant track record in her polo achievements including winning the MG & G Area Polo Cup in 2013, Umaid Bhavan Cup 2014, Jodhpur Cup 2014, Beginners Cup Jodhpur – 2013 and Hermes Cup Jodhpur 2015, she started playing chukkers in 2012 and participated in her first tournament in 2013. Her current handicap is -2 and she represents the Amateur Riding Club. Other players are Leonie Darsow from Germany, who lives in Hamburg and works at Lufthansa Technik, French player Carine Barbe who lived in India for several years and works with Air France. Manisha Pattu who represented India in tennis at the Olympics and is an accomplished wife of the Commandant of the 61st Cavalry, Monica Saxena, a seasoned player and wife of polo commentator and player Sharad Saxena, Sonia Jabbar from Assam and Maya Chandra. Sonia and Maya not only play polo tournaments, but also keeps fit during the off season by playing cycle polo.
The TATA vs I.L.A. Pasrich & Company clash for the TATA Polo Cup was flagged off by the CEO of NITI Aayog, Mr. Amitabh Kant. Players on the I.L.A. Pasrich & Company team included Col. Ravi Rathore, Deepak Udar, Amir Singh Pasrich and Sunjay Kapur and on the TATA team were Cdr. A.P. Singh, Col Sameer Chaudhary, foreign player from USA Mike Dailey and Lt. General A.K. Sahni, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM.
Lucky draws and a selection of the Best Dressed Person in the audience stands were added attractions planned for the early spring evening, which preceded a grand prize distribution ceremony. Artist Naresh Kapuria presented a work entitled, ‘The Mask’ as the players reflected the coming together of yin and yang, on the playing field. Shivani Wazir Pasrich and the Austrian Ambassador’s wife, Joanna Daniel Wrabetz conceptualised this first all Women's Polo event. The navy band which began playing in the afternoon concluded with a “Sundown Party” with chords from Cuddalore by Sowri Rajan and a jugalbandhi with DJ Chetan.
With the TATA Polo Cup, SWP Productions has celebrated and recognised women and their determination and drive to break through glass ceilings in a male dominated bastion by presenting India's First All Women's Polo chukker. SWP Productions provides consultancy services for management of lifestyle events and cause driven projects dealing with issues like women’s empowerment, education and conservation. As a production house, they have managed projects with a message in New York, London, Poland, Mumbai, Kanha, Bangalore, Hyderabad and New Delhi.
SWP Productions presents the Bhopal Pataudi polo cup annually and they have pioneered polo cups like the Law and Justice Polo Trophy and The Tata Polo Cup.
The event was supported by the Army Polo and Riding Club, Titan Company, Ravish Kapoor, the Taj Mahal Hotel New Delhi, Episode, Lockheed Martin, MaxFort School, L'Opera, TATA Motors, TATA Housing, Delhipedia, L'Elite Delhi Magazine, Hunter Beer and The Study School for their support.
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