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slow but steady, Polo begins to establish itself in the world There does not seem to be anything stopping its expansion, as those who practice it agree on that It is not a threat to the traditional sport of polo, but rather a gateway. However, In Argentina, it faces some resistance.
In the United States, where it has a strong tradition, growth is maintained, Because it is safer, more economical and expands access to those who want to get started in polo. There, this variant has ancient roots: the first polo match was played on a sand field in 1876. Today there are 260 fields and large farms at schools and universities. What’s more, 60% of amateur players come off the sand and then move to the grass.
“The Arena Polo allows you to take the game into the city, with artificial lighting and spectators very close, like horse hockey. It’s a great way to introduce new players. It’s less intimidating and makes you really learn the game,” he explains to Nation Ruben Sanchezplayer and Chairman of the USPA Arena Polo Committee, and also a member of the Board of Directors of the aforementioned entity.
The regulation court, whose floor consists of drainage plaster and sand on top, is 100 meters long and 50 meters wide, surrounded by boards measuring one and a half meters high, and the ball must hit the arcs, which measure two metres. It is played three against threefour chukkas For seven minutes, plus 30 seconds after the first bell. After each goal, the referee raises his hand to confirm the goal, and the match continues without interruption. Sides are changed at the beginning of each Chuka There are four types of penalties: Penalty 1 (goal, plus 25-yard penalty), 15-yard (no defense), 25-yard (with defender on goal line) and half-court. If it is converted from outside 25 yards, the goal is worth double.
In Argentina, sand polo is seeking to be promoted, and there are two main promoters of this alternative Gonzalo Azumendi and Ruben “Turco” Jabibdirector of Argentine Polo Day, which has the country’s only sand polo field. Both collaborate together so that this type of polo gains more followers at the local level. So far, the competitions organized by Azumende and Jabib have been the Grand Prix, with dates in Nordelta, Martindale and Capilla del Señor, and also an intercollegiate tournament.
“I have dedicated my whole life to polo,” Azumandhi recalls. “I am 58 years old and have traveled all over the world. In Brunei, in the good times of 1996 and 1997, I discovered sand polo. There was an amazing covered field and we used to play a lot in the rainy season.” Nation.
Azumende and Jabib plan to establish a school for boys and girls, although they realize that the fields need to be doubled: at the moment there is only one school. “We had already created a sand subcommittee at that time with Eduardo Novello Astrada (NdR: when he was president of the Argentine Polo Federation), but it was still difficult for us to do so.” sticky. They look at you strangely. but, After seeing what was happening in the United States, many began to care. This does not replace traditional polo: it is a gateway. And also a way to continue playing for those who no longer want to risk too much.Azumende confirms.
“I think it will continue to progress,” says Francisco Crotto. “In Argentina, it will depend on the structure. There are so many grass fields that it is difficult to give them space, but sand polo is ideal for learning: the field is smaller, the ball is bigger, and the horses have nowhere to go.”
Global expansion occurs naturally and finds followers in many countries. In fact, two editions of the World Cup have already been organized: one in 2023 in Argentina, where France won the tournament, and the last one a few weeks ago in the United States, where the local team won the title in Virginia, after defeating the Albiceleste team of Napoleon Bourdieu, Damien Mundaka, Miguel Lagos Marmol, Francisco Croto and Andrés LarreguetDirected by Gonzalo Azumendi.
Argentina narrowly lost in the final to the local team, with a score of 16-14. They previously defeated France, the first champion, Pakistan and Guatemala. “The World Cup was very good. We went to represent the country with an amazing group,” he added. “It got away from us, but we had a great time and it was very well organised.”Highlights of Francisco Croto.
“The truth is that we are very satisfied. We almost won it but it was a victory for us. Expectations were low and expectations became high. There were 260 stadiums against ours,” said Jabib, the stadium owner. La Carona Polo ClubAnd kilo zero from the pole of the square in Argentina. The first World Cup in this specialty was organized in this club in 2023, and it also hosted the World Cup qualifiers in the United States.
Jared SheldonWorld champion with the American team. He grew up playing sand polo and never played on a traditional field until he was 16. As a player who has the greatest strength in this method, he considers it a completely different sport from traditional polo, since friction and dynamics are prevalent and decisions must be made quickly and continuously. At the same time, he evaluates Nation Growth of polo at international level: “It was very good to see how all the teams have developed in this World Cup, especially Argentina, who are playing better and better in every match.”
With the confirmation of the 2027 FIFA World Cup in France, which will be held at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, the Polo Grounds is drawing lines towards the future in terms of its consolidation. Meanwhile, many glamorous exhibitions are being held around the world, such as the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo Exhibition, at the Al Forsan Equestrian Village in Saudi Arabia, which in 2026 will be held on January 16-17. In the 2025 edition, Adolfo Cambiaso – its fourth edition – and his children Boruto and Mia, Pablo Mac Dono and Ignacio Figueras, and others participated.
Related to the polo arena in terms of surface, although the field is wider and the goals are traditional, AlUla is a glamorous and upscale event, as is the Arena Cingorini in Romania. “What’s special about it is that we’re playing in the desert, it’s unbelievable, and if it wasn’t for polo I don’t think we would have gotten to a place like this. Playing in the sand is different. It is a program unlike anything else. AlUla helps polo grow, and little by little the doors will open for polo thanks to AlUla and Saudi Arabia. Adolfo CambiasoWhich reinforces the idea that all these variables favor the spread and development of the game of polo.
This is also understood by polo promoters in Argentina, who are committed to merging schools, adding players and generating more support from the Argentine Polo Federation.
“We want this to grow, for boys and girls to be able to learn, for there to be more fields, and for us to understand that sand polo does not compete with grass polo: it complements it,” concludes Azumende, who discovered sand polo abroad and is seeking to spread it in his country.
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