With an aim to empower women in sports, Assam Rifles to launch its women’s polo team

Guwahati: The Assam Rifles is all set to launch its women’s polo team on Monday (May 6) at Manipur’s Imphal Polo Ground, originally known as Mapal Kangjeibung, the oldest polo ground in the world.

The landmark event will witness the congregation of esteemed dignitaries, sports enthusiasts and proponents of gender equality, as the team puts its best foot forward in Manipuri Polo.

The team comprises six highly-skilled Manipuri women soldiers or riflewomen, who were handpicked in 2023 through an elaborate selection process as a part of the sports recruitment drive of Assam Rifles, the country’s oldest paramilitary force.

Over the past one year, these illustrious women have trained themselves as soldiers and honed their skills in Manipuri Polo. This ground-breaking initiative serves as a testament to the commitment of the Assam Rifles towards promotion of local sports and empowerment of women.

The Assam Rifles has been recruiting women soldiers since 2016 to serve the nation. In 2022, the paramilitary force took a significant step of recruiting women excelling in sports, thereby opening a new avenue for them.

The Assam Rifles has always championed sports to cultivate an environment of sportsmanship, camaraderie and unity among its ranks. Since 2017, the force, referred to as the ‘Sentinels of the Northeast,’ only had a men’s polo team, which has risen to prominence and already earned accolades for itself in Manipuri Polo.

As anticipation builds for the launch of the women’s polo team, Maj Gen Ravroop Singh, Inspector General Assam Rifles-South (IGAR-South), informed that the event transcends the realm of sports.

“By empowering women, fostering regional harmony and upholding Manipur’s rich polo heritage, the Assam Rifles is forging a powerful legacy that will inspire generations to come,” Maj Gen Singh said.

“The historic event will invigorate the tradition of Manipuri Polo, which has witnessed setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent ethnic clashes in the state,” he added. 

Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey will grace the occasion as the chief guest of the event.