In a highly anticipated showdown, the Indian Navy and 61 Cavalry will compete for the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh National Polo Trophy on Saturday. The excitement built as two thrilling semifinal matches unfolded today at the Chandigarh Polo Club, setting the stage for an electrifying final.
In the first semifinal, the Indian Navy emerged victorious against the Army Service Corps (ASC) in a nail-biting contest, finishing with a score of 10-7. The match began with a tightly contested first round, where ASC managed to secure a slight lead, ending the period at 4-3. Major Karamat Ali was the standout player for ASC, netting three goals, but it was the Navy’s Dhruvpal Godara who truly shone, completing a remarkable hat-trick.
The momentum shifted in the second round as the Indian Navy rallied back, outscoring ASC 5-3. Godara continued his impressive performance, adding two goals that shifted the tides in favor of the Navy, culminating in an 8-6 advantage by the end of the third round. ASC’s Major Karamat Ali struggled as he missed two crucial close-range opportunities, which could have turned the game in their favor. As the match drew to a close, Godara capped off his exceptional performance by scoring two more goals, sealing the Navy’s victory at 10-7. Naik Ravindra Mang managed to score the sole point for ASC in the final round.
The second semifinal offered a different narrative, as 61 Cavalry decisively defeated Rajasthan Polo Club (RPC) with a score of 7-4.5. The dynamic trio of Lt Col Vishal Chauhan, Major Anant Rajpurohit, and Captain Anmol Wariach established a strong foundation for 61 Cavalry, giving them an early lead of 3-1.5. A pivotal moment came when Chauhan successfully converted a 15-yard penalty, extending their advantage.
However, RPC showed resilience with back-to-back goals from Alan Shaun Michael, momentarily flipping the script and taking a lead of 4.5-4 after the second round. Yet, the experienced 61 Cavalry team tightened its defense, not conceding any goals in the third and fourth rounds while managing to score three goals of their own. The strategic play allowed them to maintain momentum and secure the match, concluding with a score of 7-4.5.
As the finalists prepare to clash on Saturday, the excitement is palpable among the polo community, with fans eager to see which team will emerge victorious in this prestigious tournament.
