Bombay Gymkhana under lights came alive today evening as polo enthusiasts gathered to witness a thrilling fast-paced clash in another edition of the Bombay Gymkhana Arena Polo Championship 2025 where the teams – Captain EL Marryat and Lieutenant C L Young ended as joint winners of the coveted trophy with this exhibition match ending at eight goals apiece.
Playing with flair and intensity, the match captured real essence of polo where seasoned players Mitesh Mehta of C L Young (three goals) and Marryat’s Sunny Patel (six goals) hogged the limelight for their respective teams in this highly competitive clash, which saw the momentum in favour of Marryat especially in the first chukker before Young team came back strongly in the second and final round.
Enjoying a comfortable 4-1 lead at the end of the first chukker, it seemed that Marryat would run away with this game, however credit to their opponents who stuck to their task and rallied in a commendable fashion. Their comeback was orchestrated in a large manner with their substitution Swaroop Singh, who made a huge difference with his sustained play when he came in the second round.
Going into the final chukker, the scoreboard read 6-4 in favour of Marryat but it was clear that match was heading into an interesting final round. Young team were looking dangerous as they clawed their way back into the match with four goals that included a penalty in the final chukker to deservingly end the match on even terms. Talented youngster Neil Malaney too had a good game for Young team as he played his part effectively in shaping their fightback with three goals.
Overall, the teams playing on a very good surface were equally matched and had an engaging game at the lawns of Bombay Gymkhana, who this year are celebrating their 150 years of sporting existence.
Total three players featured in each team vying for the championship in this arena polo match divided into three chukkers, each lasting about 7.5 minutes. In the closing stages of the match, Young team earned a penalty to even things up and the final bell rang, which saw the Bombay Polo Challenge Cup (founded in 1882) been shared between these two teams.
This year’s event is dedicated to the two officers of the Royal Engineers, Captain E. L. Marryat and Lieutenant C. L. Young who in 1875 drew up a complete blueprint on the formation of the Bombay Gymkhana.
