JAIPUR: Sainte Mesme Polo Team in France stunned the reigning champions, Kazak 11-9 in a thrilling final match, thanks to a three-goal effort by an Indian player -- Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh.
The Kazak team had been unbeaten for the past many years. By recording an exciting 2-goal victory, ‘Sainte Mesme Polo Team’ thus bagged the prestigious ‘129° Open de Paris’ title. The summit clash took place at the Polo de Paris recently, which is also known as Bagatelle and is just 12 kms from Paris.
Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, who was a member of the winning team, excelled in the match and scored 3 vital goals in the finals. The 24-year-old Padmanabh Singh has been playing for Sainte Mesme team for the last four years. It is noteworthy that way back in 1950, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh, the great grandfather of Padmanabh Singh, had won this trophy for the same team.
The Jaipur-based Padmanabh Singh said, “I am delighted to be a part of this winning team in a thriller of a match. It gives me a huge sense of pride that I am living up to the legacy of the all-time great polo player, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh.”
The nail-biting final encounter lived up to the pre-match expectations of the fans as both teams fought hard for the coveted trophy. The defending champions Kazak looked like extending their reign at the top but important goals by Padmanabh Singh at the crucial juncture of the match sealed the fate of Kazak and helped Sainte Mesme Polo Team clinch the trophy.
