Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lahore, Pakistan - Eight helmeted men in white riding pants, leather boots and short-sleeved shirts galloped atop their well-groomed steeds toward the white ball as it bounced on a lush field.
Wooden mallets raised above their heads like swords, the men charged the ball with abandon.
Spectators in the grandstands sat beneath a white canopy and leaned forward in anticipation.
Then one rider burst forward, wound his mallet back as he approached the ball, and unleashed a furious strike that sent a cracking sound through the air. The ball split a pair of black and white striped posts, bringing a round of well-mannered applause from the audience.
Just another balmy Sunday afternoon at the Lahore Polo Club.
Founded in 1886 by a British military officer, the club is one of the oldest in the world. Despite the rise of violent attacks and political tension here, the sport continues to flourish at the club.
"For me, polo is a lifestyle," said Ahmed Mawaz Diwana, 38, a veteran polo player and member of the club. "It's an addiction - I can't let go of it."
The Lahore Polo Club has 225 members, 75 who actively play. A staff of more than 400, including horse trainers, groomers, groundskeepers, kitchen workers and administrators, keeps the club running smoothly....
For more on this article, please click on the following link: Polo club still stylish respite in Pakistan: Cleveland.com
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