Friday, May 24, 2024 Polo teams from both the men’s and women’s divisions arrived at the Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club (HPRC) in Hyderabad, India, representing various countries. The initial agenda included simultaneous tournaments for women and mixed teams. However, after the withdrawal of the French and Spanish women’s teams, the organizers merged the events into a single tournament.
Consequently, two teams each from India and the USA competed alongside squads from Spain and Luxembourg. The event also featured a women’s exhibition match to honor International Women’s Day, aligning with the US’s Women’s History Month. This special match saw American players teaming up with Indian counterparts in a spirited and competitive showcase.
The tournament, structured as a six-team elimination competition, saw USA-1, comprising Jake Klentner, Sloane Stefanakis, Megan Flynn, and Luke Klentner, advance to the finals after defeating teams from India and Spain. India-2 reached the finals by overcoming challenges from Luxembourg and USA-2, featuring Caroline Vissers, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Peck, and Dorn Cox. The final match attracted a record audience and included VIP attendees such as IPS Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad K.
Sreenivasa Reddy, and US Consul General Jennifer Larson, who were visibly engrossed in the match. In the championship final, USA-1 secured a 3-2 lead in the first chukker and increased the lead to 12-6 by the end of the second, adding three more goals in.
