Sagol kāngjei facts for kids
The illustration of the traditional Meitei game of Sagol Kangjei in a postage stamp of India
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| Nicknames | Game of Kings, Horse Hockey, Sakol Kangchei, Shakol Kangchei, Shagol Kangjei |
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| First played | c. 3100 BCE |
| Characteristics | |
| Mixed-sex | no |
| Type | equestrian sport |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Manipur, India |
| Olympic | no |
| World Championships | yes |
| Paralympic | no |
| World Games | no |
Sagol Kangjei (Meitei: ꯁꯒꯣꯜ ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩ, romanized: sagol kāngjei, lit. 'horse hockey') is an exciting traditional sport from the Meitei people. It is also known as Manipuri polo. This game is played on horseback using a long stick to hit a ball. Many people believe it is the original form of the modern international sport of polo.
Contents
The Story of Sagol Kangjei
Sagol Kangjei is one of the world's oldest sports. Some historians think it was first played around 3100 BCE. This was in the ancient Meitei kingdom called Kangleipak. In Meitei mythology, the gods themselves played Sagol Kangjei. The gods Marjing and Thangjing were said to lead these games.
Polo in Ancient Times
The Cheitharol Kumbaba is a very old royal book from Kangleipak. It shows that Sagol Kangjei was more than just a game. It was also used in important talks and even in palace plans. Another ancient Meitei book, the Kangjeirol (Meitei: ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩꯔꯣꯜ), says polo was played during the time of King Ningthou Kangba. He ruled Kangleipak a very long time ago. King Kangba even set up polo matches for his officials. Later, King Khagemba (1597-1652 CE) made Sagol Kangjei even more popular. He also updated the rules for the game.
How Polo Spread
Sagol Kangjei was shown to British officers in Cachar, Assam. This happened when Sir Chandrakirti Singh, who was the ruler of Manipur at the time, introduced them to the sport. This introduction helped the game spread and become known around the world.
How Sagol Kangjei is Played
Sagol Kangjei is a type of polo. It is a ball game that looks a bit like hockey. Players ride on a special horse called a Manipuri pony (Meitei: ꯁꯒꯣꯜ, romanized: sagol). These ponies are a traditional breed and are about 11-13 hands tall. Players use a long stick, or mallet, called a kāngjei (ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩ, kāngjei).
Equipment for the Game
The kāngjei stick is made from strong cane. It has a special wooden head at the end for hitting the ball. The polo ball is solid and made from the root of a bamboo plant. It is usually about 10 centimeters (4 inches) wide.
Teams and Field
The game is played between two teams. Each team has seven players. They are called the northern team and the southern team. The playing field is usually shaped like a rectangle. It is about 210 yards (192 meters) long and 100 yards (91 meters) wide. Players can only hit the ball with their mallets. There are no goal posts in Sagol Kangjei. A team scores a goal when the ball goes across the end line of the field.
Other Types of Hockey
Sagol Kangjei is one of three types of Meitei kāngjei (or hockey). The other two are foot hockey (ꯈꯣꯡ ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩ, khong kāngjei), which is played on foot, and hockey with wrestling (ꯃꯨꯛꯅꯥ ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩ, muknā kāngjei).
What Players Wear
Players wear short-sleeved jackets in their team's colors. They also wear white dhotis that are tucked up above their knees. A traditional Manipuri turban, called a kokyet, is worn on their head. It is held in place by a khadangchet.
Protective Gear
Players use leg guards (khongyon) to protect their shins and calves. More guards (khuning khang) protect their heels and ankles. However, the players' feet are bare.
Horse Gear
The saddles for the ponies are made of decorated leather. They are attached to a wooden frame called ukang khe. The stirrups have a flat base for the player's foot. A special type of bit, called a snaffle bit (chanam caru), is used on the horse.
Polo Around the World
The Manipur International Polo event brings together teams from many countries. Teams from places like Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United States come to compete. They play against the team from Manipur.
There is also a special tournament for women. The Manipur Statehood Day Women's Polo Tournament is the first and only international women's polo tournament held in India.
Important Polo Places
Manipur has some very old polo grounds. Two of the oldest are the Inner Polo Ground and the Imphal Polo Ground. Both are located in Imphal. In the past, only Meitei royals and nobles were allowed to play at the Inner Polo Ground.
Marjing Polo Complex
The Marjing Polo Complex is a sports area built for Marjing. He is the Meitei god of horses and polo. This complex is on the hilltop of the Heingang Ching. This place is believed to be where Marjing lives. The complex includes the Marjing Polo Statue. This statue is the tallest statue of a mounted polo player in the world. It was built to celebrate Manipur as the birthplace of modern polo.
Also on Heingang Ching, there is a special place for the god Marjing. People who play polo and others go there to pray and perform special rituals for him. They often offer polo mallets, balls, and small horse statues to the god. Because of this, the temple is full of small, white horse figures, red and white polo mallets, and pictures of horses.
Images for kids
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Polo players in Manipur, 1875
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A Sagol Kangjei match in progress
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Traditional Polo in Manipur, India
