Vishwarupe Bajaj: Rising Young Star On The Polo Horizon

With its Royal origins, polo has always been a niche sport in India and finding your space when you take it up is always a challenge.

However, Amateur Riders Club's (ARC) Vishwarupe Bajaj, all of 17, is up and coming on the polo circuit in Mumbai after clinching the National Junior title in March 2024, something he considers as his biggest achievement.

Vishwarupe is very passionate about polo and puts his heart and soul in training and during matches.

"Polo is my life. It’s more than a sport for me- I breathe, eat, and sleep polo. My love for horses brought me into this sport, and the polo community has become like a second family to me. Playing polo has also taken me abroad several times, which has been an incredible experience. While it’s not my entire life-I have family, friends, and school to balance-it’s a huge and irreplaceable part of who I am."

The HR College student is an admirer of Camilo Castagnola and enjoys watching cricket too with some favourites in India's most loved sport as well.

"I admire Camilo Castagnola the most (better known as Jeta). He has achieved the top global ranking in his early 20s, and is already making a name for himself while still being a teenager. Apart from polo, I'm a big fan of the Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma. I admire both his skills on the pitch, and his calm and composed demeanor, definitely one of my favourites," he added.

The 17-year-old owes a big part of his success to the support system he possesses.

“My parents, coaches, and trainers have played a massive role in shaping my career. Polo is a challenging sport. that can lead to life-threatening injuries, and it’s also an expensive one to pursue. But my parents' support has been crucial in helping me continue playing.

My coaches have also been incredible. They’ve stayed calm and encouraging even when I wasn’t performing my best. My current coach, Chris Mackenzie, has been with me for four years now. He’s one of the best players to have come to India and is highly regarded in international circuits. My previous coaches, Binzalo Yanzon and Samir Suhag, also taught me so much. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”

Vishwarupe has done fairly well balancing school and polo despite the challenges it has brought about.

“Managing schoolwork and training has been difficult. I used to study in a convent school that was very academic and strict about attendance, so I changed schools to get more flexibility for my leave. Like any parents, mine are strict about studies. I do a lot of online tuition while traveling. I don’t have much choice in that. However, online tuitions have been helpful, and I manage to work around my exam schedule,'' he added.