The much-awaited 15th Manipur Polo International Tournament 2025 began on Saturday at the historic Mapal Kangjeibung, marking the return of Manipur’s premier polo event after a two-year hiatus.

Five teams are participating this year, Colombia, the United States of America, Chhattisgarh, India A (IPA) and India B (Manipur), with Colombia making its debut in the tournament. The inauguration ceremony was graced by Puneet Kumar Goel, Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur, H. Deleep Singh, Honorary President of the Manipur Horse Riding & Polo Association (MHRPA), and Dr. Shailesh Kumar Chaurasia, Commissioner, Government of Manipur, who attended as Chief Guest, President and Guest of Honour respectively.

The Chief Secretary welcomed dignitaries, international teams and local polo associations to the world’s oldest polo ground and highlighted the role of Manipur as the birthplace of polo in his speech.

He emphasised the cultural importance of game and said that the tournament plays a vital role in preserving Manipur’s polo heritage, promoting the indigenous Manipuri ponies and fostering international collaboration. Goel outlined government initiatives to further popularise polo in Manipur by improving infrastructure, engaging international coaches and organizing more global events in partnership with the Tourism Department, DIPR and the Ministry of DONER.

The opening match between the USA Polo Team and the Colombia Polo Team set an energetic tone for the seven-day event, with Colombia securing a 6–4 victory. The USA team scored across the first four chukkers, but Colombia maintained steady momentum to claim their maiden win in the tournament. The Colombian team, led by Federico Puyanna Boggio, consists of his brother Alejandro Puyana and teammate Pablo Serrano Trujillo. Federico, with a handicap of 3 goals, is a third-generation polo player whose grandfather and father, both named Edward Puyanna, were also polo players.

Federico began learning the sport at age eight and played numerous tournaments in Colombia as part of a family team. After moving to the United States, he represented Kentucky University and later turned professional, competing in the South-East American polo circuit.

He learned about the Manipur Polo International through coach Jorge Vasquez, whose stories inspired him to visit Manipur and experience the birthplace of polo firsthand. Pablo Serrano, with a handicap of 2 goals, is also a third-generation player. He started riding at 10 and playing polo at 13. Formerly a professional in Colombia, he now plays in the United States while running his fashion company, Macondo, which produces belts, wallets and keychains and employs around 35 people.

Pablo credits polo for helping him expand his business network. Alejandro Puyana, the youngest member of the team, holds a 3-goal handicap. He began riding at seven and playing polo at nine. As captain of the Kentucky University team, he led them to the 2025 II Division Collegiate Championship. Holding dual citizenship of Colombia and Italy, he represented Italy in the 2025 FIP Arena Tournament.

Alejandro divides his playing season between Colombia and the U.S. and describes polo as a high-risk, high-reward sport that allows him to travel and explore different cultures. Inspired by Jorge Vasquez, he expressed deep emotion upon seeing the Manipuri pony, recalling his childhood memories of riding his first pony. In today’s match, the US team, comprising Elizabeth Lewis Kotzebue, Zachary Coleman, Davin Meeker and Daniel Coleman, put up a spirited performance but fell short against the Colombian side.

Colombia took an early lead with three goals in the first chukker and continued to dominate to finish with six goals. The match was officiated by umpires Vijay Singh and T. Pradeepkumar, with L. Babinam Singh serving as timekeeper and Kiran Athokpam Singh as scorer.

The tournament, beginning on Saturday and will continue till November 27, with the grand finale scheduled for November 29, promises a week of thrilling moments for polo enthusiasts. International and national teams — including players from the USA, Colombia, India A (IPA), India B (Manipur) and India C (Chhattisgarh)—will showcase their talent, skill and tactical brilliance as they compete for the championship and the coveted trophy.