The Yes Bank International Polo Cup between India’s Amateur Riders’ Club (ARC) and Argentina returned for its fourth summer of horsemanship and equestrian gala at the sprawling Mahalaxmi Race Course last Saturday. The event was organized in association with the Consulate General and Promotion Centre of the Argentine Republic, in Mumbai.
Despite the sweltering heat, polo aficionados, diplomats, businessmen and the city’s socialites flocked to the stands donning decorative headgear, colourful ensembles dapper jackets and the all-essential shades. Consul General of Argentina Tomas Ferrari and his wife delivered sartorial elegance in pinstripes and slate grey. In the list of special guests was Dr. Indu Shahani, CEO of Yes Bank, Dr. Rana Kapoor’s wife, Bindu Kapoor and daughters Radha Kapoor and Roshini Kapoor; and Bollywood actor Poonam Dhillon.
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| L to R: Dr. Indu Shahani, CEO of Yes Bank, Dr. Rana Kapoor’s daughters Radha Kapoor and Roshini Kapoor and wife, Bindu Kapoor; Bollywood actor Poonam Dhillon and Interior Designer Nisha Jamvwal |
Among those others who also attended the polo match were Ajay Piramal, Chairman of the Piramal Group with his wife Swati Piramal, Bollywood actor Rahul Dev, Trustee Prithvi Theater, Kunal Kapoor, British singer Sofia Hayat, Interior Designer Nisha Jamvwal and anchor of the evening Rochelle Rao.
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| Ajay Piramal with wife Swati Piramal |
The match was met by packed stands and the players regaled its spectators with an action-packed game. ARC’s three-year consecutive win against Argentina failed to reroute our allegiance to the Argentine players and we cheered away between regular hand-fanning and punctuated applause. In the audience, kids sported argentine jerseys and waved blue and white flags through the vigorous galloping, gallant goals and rising dust and mallets. Mounted on new polo ponies (a mentionable fact, if I may), the Argentine players gave a tough fight, albeit only to be beaten by their Indian counterparts by a single point.
The prize distribution ceremony that followed saw Raj Shroff, President of ARC, Consul General Tomas Ferrari and Bindu Kapoor felicitate the teams for their sportsmanship and awarded the wining team with the Polo Cup.
Argentina is a reigning Olympic champion in this equestrian sport and their lands are naturally blessed with expansive estancias and the best endurance horse breed, the Criollos. Argentine polo players are known to be one of the finest players in the sport world over and we can only hope that next year the Argentines take the cup home.
As the sun set on the fields, everyone gathered under the marquee for rounds of cocktails and appetizers while the Bombay Chambers Orchestra enthralled its audience with all time classics and invigorating instrumental music.
Seated at the tables we let the music takeover and shared happy smiles to an evening well spent.
Hasta La Vista !
As the sun set on the fields, everyone gathered under the marquee for rounds of cocktails and appetizers while the Bombay Chambers Orchestra enthralled its audience with all time classics and invigorating instrumental music.
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| Bombay Chambers Orchestra performing at Yes Bank International Polo Cup |
Seated at the tables we let the music takeover and shared happy smiles to an evening well spent.
Hasta La Vista !
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