Contributions of Indian Army to Polo in India are indeed immense. If Polo is popular in India and is still played in the country, then the Indian Army is one of the main sources of inspiration for the same. It can well be said that polo is the Indian Army`s gift to people of the world. It was an Indian Army subaltern who delivered the game from the isolated mountains fastness of the north eastern state of Manipur into the foothills of Assam. And it was from the state of Assam that the game of Polo spread to Kolkata and rest of the countries in the world.

During the peak phase of British rule in India, polo was more than just a game for the Indian Army. It actually became an entire part of living. It was believed that the secret to becoming a good soldier were hidden in the game itself and that a soldier had to play polo in order to become a good soldier. So the army extended its full support towards the development of the game. Regiments of the Indian Army, specially the cavalry, devoted most of their leisure to polo, which in a way enhanced their lifestyle and helped them live a Spartan life. The gusto for polo was not limited to British officers only. Many of the Indian officers and other ranks were addicted to the game and indeed, two of India`s polo legends at the turn of the century, General Chanda Singh Dhillon, Sardar Bahadur, OBI, OBE, and Colonel Heera Singh, both of Patiala, kick started their careers in the Indian Army, in the 16th and 12th Bengal Cavalry, respectively. Ressaidar Ibrahim Khan, of the 2nd Central India Horse was a player the equal of Thakur Dhokal Singh of Jodhpur and Major Shah Mirza Beg of the Hyderabad Lancers. He could exhibit polo even on a half trained pony and died, rather killed on the Polo ground at Agar shortly after the regiments return from Persia in 1912. The close association of officers and men on the polo field enhanced strong bonds between them and immensely contributed towards holding the regiment together, thus increasing the spirit within themselves.

As a result of the Indian Armed forces the game of polo was popularized in the country. The entire world took notice of the game later on and they started practising the game in their own respective countries.