It’s Raining Men

Meet swashbuckling polo players as well as India’s youngest lady mallet wielder, 17-year-old Sanya Suhag, as she reveals how riding changed her life!

Samir Suhag

Handicap: (+5). Age: 43. Profession: Sports (Professional).

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What is the toughest part about being a polo player?

It is a challenge to keep the mind and body relaxed and alert at all times. It’s a very quick game and one has to have great hand and eye co-ordination to survive on the polo ground.

How do you keep fit?

To play this game on a professional front demands a high fitness level. One has to hit the gym often to make sure the muscles have enough strength to be able to handle the horse and the enormous physical stress that the game entails. A bit of yoga helps one relax, keeps the mind fresh and increases your level of concentration.

How would you describe your style?

Subtle and understated. I don’t wear loud colours, I opt for classics.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Pune, Maharashtra, and since my father was in the Army, I travelled all over the country as a child and finally settled down in Delhi.

What made you choose polo?

While growing up, I used to play most of the games that one could in our country. It was not until Class 12 that I gave polo a try. I vividly remember the thrill I got wielding the mallet; I never felt like this before. That is when I got hooked on to polo, praying that I would never have to leave it.

What keeps you going?

To be able to play this game as a perfect team sport is the biggest motivating factor. The pleasure one gets in making the team play at its best is inspiring enough for me to continue playing the game.

What’s your style statement?

I don’t have a favourite brand, I like a bit of everything; high-street to high-end. I prefer a casual look unless the occasion demands otherwise.

Sanya Suhag

Handicap: (-2). Age: 17. Profession: Student/polo player.

Do you love riding?

Polo is the only game in the world, where women can compete with men. And we get no extra advantages being the ‘fairer sex’ in this fast and furious game. The toughest challenge for me is to be able to get so comfortable on the horse that I don’t have to think I’m riding it so that I can concentrate on various other aspects of the game.

How do you keep yourself fit?

When I started playing polo, I realised that I would require a little more strength than I had. This made me go to the gym and undertake strength training. A mixture of yoga and Pilates has also helped me stay fit and alert in the game.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Meerut and have lived my entire life in Delhi.

What made you choose polo?

Having seen my dad (Samir) play this game for years, it was inevitable that I would develop a liking towards it, too. I love being around animals and that’s what lured me towards polo ponies. After establishing a bond with horses, I fell in love with polo, almost instantly.

Your inspirations on the polo field?

When one is a beginner one gets inspired by many things in the game. Just to be able to hook a player or undertake a ride-off makes your day. A small little pass which results in a goal or a good goal one scores, is exhilarating. Small pleasures one gets in the game can’t be explained, you have to experience them.

Your favourite brands

I don’t really have any particular favourite brands. I like to pick up clothes from all brands as long as I like them and they fit well. Being comfortable is being stylish, according to me.

Rajat Rai Khatri with wife Ritu

Handicap: (-2). Age: 43. Profession: Entrepreneur.

What are the essentials of being a good polo player?

You must be able to manage speed, wield a mallet, and chase a small white ball while riding a horse. A good bonding between you and the pony is essential. Plus, you need to be able to anticipate, so an always alert mind is a prerequisite. All this gives you less reaction time and requires skilful navigation during the chukkers.

How do you keep yourself fit?

For me, keeping fit is a way of life. An early riser, I never miss my daily dose of cardio, gymming and riding. This keeps me energised all day long.

How would you describe your personal style?

I just follow my heart and instincts.

What made you choose polo?

Till very recently, squash and outdoor running was my passion. I used to ride in school, but never pursued equestrian sports. It was only a few years back, when friends like Samir Suhag and Brigadier Mundi got me interested in riding again, that I enjoyed the first few chukkers. The sport just grew on me and I decided to pursue it.

Your inspirations on the polo field?

To be honest, it is the game that inspires me and the pleasure that you derive out of playing this sport as well as the proximity of this sport to the Armed Forces and the true, uniformed officers are also an inspiration. There are quite a few polo players across the world, but I find Samir Suhag’s team play the best on the field. His determination and flair is pretty impressive.

Your favourite brands and your style statement?

I like classic stuff, so it has to be Hermès and Valentino. I believe style must be all about fine detailing.

Naveen Singh Tanwar

Handicap: (+2). Age: 23. Profession: Polo player.

What made you want to be a professional polo player?

I am an adrenaline junkie and I like sports that keep you on the edge. Polo is a risky sport as one nasty fall off the horse can break your shoulder bone or hip. So if you are ready to take on something that will put your life in danger, polo is the game for you, as it is riddled with many perils.

How do you keep fit?

I maintain a balanced diet, but I also work-out religiously to meet the standards of fitness that are required to play polo.

What made you choose polo?

My father Rasildar Major Ramesh is a polo player, too, and he is my biggest inspiration. He has also played for the President’s Bodyguard team.

Your inspirations on the polo field?

Adolfo Cambiaso from Buenos Aires is an Argentine polo player with a 10-goal handicap. He is ranked No. 1 in the world and Cambiaso is a pioneer, according to me. And yes, my seniors are always an inspiration, like Samir (Suhag) sir.

Which are your favourite brands?

Ralph Lauren and Lacoste for offering elegance and unrestrained sophistication.

Navneet Agarwal

Handicap: (+1). Age: 29. Profession: Managing Director, Action Shoes.

What is the most interesting aspect of polo?

I would say time management; if your balance, grip and mind ever wavers, you have lost the battle even before it has begun.

How do you keep yourself fit?

I am an avid swimmer and I’m careful about what I eat.

What made you choose polo?

The experience of sitting on a horse was like meditation and I got hooked on to it when I observed the power and precision involved in the sport.

Your inspirations on the polo field?

Pablo Mac Donough, who is a professional polo player from Argentina with a 10-goal handicap. I like his effortless style which keeps his game unmatched. I am also envious of his riding prowess, which is what makes him the best!

Favourite brands

... Italian label Ermenegildo Zegna for its timeless appeal and Berluti for its fine, super smooth leather.

Sachin Sarbalia

Handicap: 0. Age: 26. Profession: Apparel manufacturing.

What is most enchanting about the game of polo?

Polo looks easy, but it’s absolutely the reverse. As a polo player, one has to keep fit as well as focused on giving a consistent performance. There is always a wish and effort to improve the string on horses and get some more, which may help in enhancing performance on the field because at the end of the day 70 per cent of the game is dependent on the horse. A good polo pony always complements your game.

How do you keep fit?

I ride every morning at 5.30 am. During off-season, I practise whenever the weather allows, maybe every alternate day. In addition, a regular workout in the evenings focusing more on the core, legs and shoulders is pivotal. That’s my regime and way of keeping myself fit even during off-season. Eventually, all these efforts pay off during the exhausting polo season.

How would you describe your playing style?

I am a natural forward, but I am a team player. I do what my team demands to win. Listening to your captain is as important as scoring goals.

What made you choose polo?

My love for horses always pushed me to get into equestrian sports, but I chose polo because the tingle you get as you score a goal riding at breakneck speed won me over. It is a dangerous sport but the pleasure and danger level is way beyond anything else.

Your inspirations on the polo field?

My inspirations on the field are Samir Suhag and Simran Singh Shergill. They are top players in the country, presently rated at +5 and they have been very consistent in their performances. I wish to reach their level one day.

Favourite brands...

Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers.

How would you describe your style statement?

I like to maintain an untamed look with a moustache and stubble. It can make one elegant or rough, depending on how one wants to look on a particular day. I select outfits which complement my look and try maintaining a balance between being too appealing or super dull. Trying new things is always great, but I’m not a risk-taker. I like classic stuff with a modern customisation and it is this twist that makes one stand out.

Photographs: Kapil Gulati & Gimmie Kohli @Studio Thirty6. Styled by Aakanksha Jain. Makeup and hair: Anuj Dogra.

From the September 2015 issue of L’Officiel India.