The ninth FIP 14-goal World Polo Championship – also known popularly as the Polo World Cup - will be held in Argentina in October 2011. Held every three years, the best teams in the world compete for the coveted title. Chile is the current world champion, having won the 2008 World Polo Championship in Mexico after beating Brazil. The first edition of the championships was held in Argentina in 1987 – and after 24 years it is happening there again.

This year, the eight best teams from four geographic zones, together with teams of the host country Argentina and defending champions Chile, will play the preliminary matches at the Estancia Grande Polo Club in the picturesque San Luis province. The club will have four polo grounds plus stabling for a pool of around 300 ponies from which teams will draw their mounts. The competition will then move to the huge national polo stadium at Palermo in Buenos Aires.

But before the teams cross the oceans to this seductive South American country, there are Zone Qualifiers to be played! India will play the Zone D Tournament, which will be held in Malaysia at the Royal Pahang Polo Club, and the Royal Selangor Polo Club from 14th to 25th June. Seven other national teams - from Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa and the host country Malaysia – will also play Zone D matches. The top three will then proceed to the Estanda Grande Polo Club in San Luis, Argentina.

All four players grew up in army cantonments in various parts of the country and all, apart from Maj. Vishal Chauhan, got their first polo lessons from their dads, whom they admire.

SALT introduces its readers to Polo ‘Team India’.

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