Jaipur: Jaipur Optiemus Achievers defeated Jindal Panther 9-6 in an entertaining rain affected exhibition match during the Indian Open Polo Championship at the iconic Jaipur Polo Grounds.
Despite intermittent showers, nearly 1,000 spectators gathered to watch the contest, creating a lively atmosphere at the historic venue. The crowd included political figures and students from Maharaja Agrasen Medical College.
Jaipur Optiemus Achievers started the match strongly, taking early control in the opening chukker. Alejo Aramburu and Sawai Padmanabh Singh scored two goals each to give their team a commanding start. Jindal Panther responded with goals from Juan Gris Zavaleta and Ramiro Zavaleta, but the Achievers ended the first chukker ahead 4-2.
The Achievers strengthened their lead in the second chukker when Aramburu added another goal, extending the advantage to 5-2 through coordinated play and precise finishing.
Jindal Panther fought back in the third chukker as Juan Gris Zavaleta and Naveen Jindal each scored to reduce the gap to 5-4. However, the Achievers quickly regained control with goals from Sawai Padmanabh Singh and Pratap Singh Kanota, ending the first half with a comfortable 7-4 lead.
After the break, Sawai Padmanabh Singh continued his impressive performance by scoring two more goals in the fourth chukker. Although Juan Gris Zavaleta managed to add another goal for Jindal Panther, the score moved to 9-5 in favour of the Achievers.
Heavy rain began to affect the playing conditions, and the fifth chukker eventually became the final one. Naveen Jindal scored the only goal of the chukker for Jindal Panther, but the effort was not enough to close the gap as Jaipur Optiemus Achievers secured a 9-6 victory.
The match also highlighted the growing popularity of polo in India, with fans turning out in large numbers despite the unpredictable weather. Speaking after the match, Naveen Jindal emphasised the rich legacy of polo at the historic Jaipur Polo Grounds, noting that the sport has deep roots in India and continues to attract new audiences across the country.
