U.S. MEN TRAVEL TO INDIA TO COMPETE IN 10TH MANIPUR POLO INTERNATIONAL INVITATIONAL | U.S. POLO ASSN.
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U.S. MEN TRAVEL TO INDIA TO COMPETE IN 10TH MANIPUR POLO INTERNATIONAL INVITATIONAL

Nov 22, 2016

Team USPA Member Jared Sheldon approaches the ball followed by teammate Peter Blake in last year's 9th Manipur Polo International Invitational.
Team USPA Member Jared Sheldon approaches the ball followed by teammate Peter Blake in last year's 9th Manipur Polo International Invitational.

The United States Polo Association International Committee has sent a team to Imphal, Manipur, India, November 22 - 29 to compete in the 10th Manipur Polo International Invitational. Defending last year's title is a new team of American players including George Krabbe, Loreto Natividad (Team USPA), Ryan Cronin-Prather and Lucas Reid (Team USPA). Half of the team members are Team USPA members and all are graduates of the Interscholastic/Intercollegiate program. Crabbe played on both the Valley Forge Military Academy and Yale Interscholastic teams, continuing his polo career at the University of Connecticut. He currently works under Senior Instructor Mark Prinsloo at the Houston Polo Club in Houston, Texas. Cronin-Prather played polo in Northern California during high school, later attending Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, where he competed for four years. He went on to law school and is now practicing near Sacramento, California. Team USPA member, Reid studied mechanical engineering at University of Idaho. Unfortunately, according to Ed Armstrong, "Natividad took sick and had to be hospitalized before he left Houston,Texas. We are picking up a fourth player in India to fill out the team."

Team USA met England in their first game of bracket play. The team alternated two substitutes, Ranjeev Nath from New Delhi, India, and Australian Scott Kennedy-Green. After a scoreless first chukker, England scored seven combined goals in the second and third. USA rallied in the fourth chukker, scoring three consecutive goals, however ultimately could not overcome the deficit, losing to England 7-3. Last year, USA lost their first game against the host country and rallied to win the entire tournament. "The team is upbeat and planning their strategies having worked out some bugs in the first game," stated Armstrong. Stay tuned for updates from the USA's next game on Friday, November 25 versus India A - Indian Polo Association.

Team USPA Member Remy Du Celliee Muller rides to the ball at the historic Mapal Kanjeibung Polo Grounds in the 9th Manipur Polo International Invitational. Crowds of up to 6,000 watch the international tournament.
Team USPA Member Remy Du Celliee Muller rides to the ball at the historic Mapal Kanjeibung Polo Grounds in the 9th Manipur Polo International Invitational. Crowds of up to 6,000 watch the international tournament.

TEAMS & ROSTERS

AUSTRALIA
Scott Kennedy-Green
Alex Barnett
Beau Blundell
Adam Tolhurst
Jock Mackay

ENGLAND
George Shelton
Kaveh Atrak
Phil Seller
Alec Banner-Eve

KENYA
Lorenzo Soriano
Geoff Morley
Kimoi Moi
Eugene Ngumbao
Rowena Ghislaine Stichbur

USA
Lucas Reid
Loreto Natividad*
George Krabbe
Ryan Cronin-Prather
*sub. Ranjeev Nath and Scott Kennedy-Green

INDIA A - INDIAN POLO ASSOCIATION
Captain Narendra Kumar
Mr. Mahesh Kumar
Mr. Kaveh Atrak
Captain Guatam Singh

INDIA B - MANIPUR POLO AND RIDING ASSOCIATION
M. Jawan Singh
P. Ojit Sing
S. Bimol Singh
T. Pradeep Singh
Th. Ranjit Singh
L. Thomson Singh

Team USPA Member Jared Sheldon on a breakaway during the 9th Manipur Polo International Invitational.
Team USPA Member Jared Sheldon on a breakaway during the 9th Manipur Polo International Invitational.

BRACKET A
1. USA
2. England
3. India A - Indian Polo Association

BRACKET B
4. India B - Manipur Polo and Riding Association
5. Australia
6. Kenya

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, November 22
India B - Manipur Polo and Riding Association def. Australia (7-4)

Wednesday, November 23
England def. USA (7-3)

Thursday, November 24
England vs. India A - Indian Polo Association
Australia vs. Kenya

Friday, November 25
USA def. India A - Indian Polo Association (11-4)
India B - Manipur Polo and Riding Association vs. Kenya

Saturday, November 26
Semifinal 1: Winner of Bracket A vs. Runner-Up of Bracket B

Sunday, November 27
Semifinal 2: Winner of Bracket B vs. Runner-Up of Bracket A

Tuesday, November 29
Final

Traditionally dressed Manipuri Women during last year's 9th Manipur Polo International Invitational opening ceremony.
Traditionally dressed Manipuri Women during last year's 9th Manipur Polo International Invitational opening ceremony.

USPA COVID-19 UPDATE

Effective Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020

The suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events will be lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments is permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The USPA Member Clubs in these locales are encouraged to follow all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations. In addition, we also encourage all USPA Member Clubs to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. We are preparing a detailed list of best practices for USPA Member Clubs as they return to hosting USPA Tournaments and Events and plan to circulate these guidelines within the next week. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary.

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