PM, royalty, chatterati hook up at polo grounds

The spectator seats were full, and before the finals between Royal Kashmir and South Delhi, everyone was treated to a spectacular and colourful skydiving display by the the Akash Ganga Team of the Indian Air Force. With all eyes skywards,to the delight of the audience, especially the children, three of the several paragliders swooped together in a brilliant display, forming the tricolours of the Indian flag, before making a perfect landing in the middle of the field. Finally, the finals were kicked off with a goal by Angad Kalaan of Royal Kashmir, who amidst gasps of horror from the spectators, was thrown off his horse to the ground. Thankfully, both the rider and pony were unhurt and rejoined the game. Except for this and a playful, stray dog trotting on the field, oblivious to the galloping ponies, which had to be shooed off the grounds, the match continued without any disruption.

Despite good performances by the Argentinian, Pepe Araya, Lt. Akhil Sirohi, and Angad Kalaan, Yuvraj Vikramaditya Singh’s team lost the gold trophy to South Delhi’s riders Yogeshwar Singh, Bhawani Singh, Phillip Eliot from Britain and Manupal Godara.

At the end of the third chukker in the game, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s motorcade made its own grandentrance, driving right on to the field. Amongst the 25 diplomatic invitees, the British and Canadian High Commissioners, as well as ambassadors and delegates from Argentina, Columbia, Israel, Spain, Brazil, Belgium, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, France and Egypt spent the afternoon, with their spouses, watching the polo match.

Rajiv Makhni of Slice of Italy fame, present with model-wife Ruchi Malhotra, was acknowledged the Most Suave Gentleman by sponsors Reid and Taylor, while model Shefali Talwar was pronounced the Most Elegant Lady.

Besides the regulars on the polo circuit, names familiar to Delhi’s chatterati were also visible. There was Chetan Seth, obliging friends with free Habanos, media man Rajiv Shukla, lawyer Abhishek Singhvi, Naveen Ansal, Mark Tully, designer Ashish Soni with wife Misha Grewal, model Simmar Duggal, Muzaffar Ali’s son, Murad Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin Ali, Naina Balsavar, TV producer Romesh Sharma, Uma Gajpati Raju, Romi Chopra, and A.S. Kasliwal of sponsors Reid and Taylor and Arjunaawardee Adhiraj Singh of organisers Equisport.