Appeal Against SARU's Decision on WP Rugby Management and Challenge to Newlands Stadium Sale

Dion Morgan, president of South African hockey, was elected to the International Hockey Federation's (FIH) Executive Council during the 50th FIH Statutory Congress held in Doha, Qatar.

This appointment provides South Africa with important administrative representation at the highest level of international hockey governance. Furthermore, Morgan participated in the 'Readiness for the Future' Forum held prior to the Congress.

FIH President Tayeb Ikram

FIH President Tayeb Ikram chaired this year's 50th congress, gathering international delegates to discuss hockey through athlete empowerment, updating fan engagement values, and defining the sport's future in line with Olympic standards.

The working group focused on topics such as increasing accessibility, attracting new fans, and improving the overall experience for athletes. Ikram stated that the federation's goal is to remain relevant for future generations, place athletes at the center of all activities, and enhance hockey's profile within the Olympic movement.

These priorities were central to FIH President Tayeb Ikram's address to key delegates. He emphasized the need for greater attention to athletes, who are the primary priority and most important stakeholders, calling for giving them a stronger voice, creating meaningful opportunities for expression, and placing their well-being at the core of decision-making.

Maintaining the Kassiem Momentum

For South Africa, gaining a seat on the FIH Executive Council provides the administrative leverage necessary to elevate the national program's international standing. This drive for growth aligns with the current trajectory of the national men's team, supported by outstanding players such as brothers Dayan and Mustafaa Kassiem.

Both brothers currently play in the top Dutch league, Tulp Hoofdklasse, gaining critically important experience in high-level European clubs. Dayan, serving as captain of the national team, is a pillar of the squad, boasting over 100 international matches. Their fast and highly technical playing style directly reflects FIH's overarching goal—to demonstrate the speed and intensity required to attract a modern, digital audience to the sport.

Thanks to their success in the elite Dutch league Tulp Hoofdklasse, the brothers' performances provide the speed, skill, and intensity that FIH hopes will attract a younger and more digitized public.

The Future of Hockey

The Congress concluded with discussions on hockey's place in the Olympic ecosystem and its broader future. The main takeaway from the program concerned how FIH plans to integrate and support more relevant, sustainable, and athlete-centric Olympic values. Key challenges identified for hockey include: ensuring athlete well-being and empowerment, modernizing fan interaction, and strengthening governance and sustainability.

Morgan's election grants South Africa administrative participation in the FIH Executive Council and a seat at the negotiating table during a critical period for the sport's Olympic future.

Polo in Jaipur has become more accessible to spectators. Matches at the Rambagh Polo Club field now start at 7:30 PM, allowing office workers to attend games after work and families to watch matches after the daytime heat subsides.

In the last couple of months, 10 new floodlights have been installed in the area near the Vidhan Sabha and the high court. In the district where the lights over the Sawai Man Singh stadium long signaled the IPL season, there is now another reason to stop by to watch a match.

The stands are filled with young fans watching their first game, taking selfies, and getting acquainted with the sport, whose usual audience mainly consisted of royal families, cavalry, and club circles. Despite this, one can still see wide-brimmed hats, pastel linen jackets, and chiffon saris. The club hopes to provide more reasons to visit.

The 'An Evening At The Polo Night' format was previously held in Hyderabad and Noida on smaller sand-covered arenas. However, the matches in Jaipur take place on a full-sized grass field under lighting as part of the official tournament schedule.

For Major Anat Rajput, from 61 Cavalry, an experienced player, the advantage is obvious: more people can come to watch. He notes that previously matches and finals were held during the day, which severely limited accessibility for both men and women. According to him, the development of any sport occurs when the number of spectators increases, which in turn stimulates interest in the sport or investment in it.

In this center of 'kings' sport', horses and riders regularly take to the field under floodlights hoping to attract a wider audience, promote tourism development, and preserve some of the city's heritage, writes Mandakini Shali.

For Padmanabh Singh, a 28-year-old Indian polo captain and descendant of the former royal family of Jaipur, encouraging spectators is also part of maintaining the city's tradition. He emphasizes that he has always viewed polo as inextricably linked to the culture of Jaipur. In his opinion, Jaipur is one of the main polo centers in the world and has contributed much to the sport; many landmark moments happened right here. Therefore, when talking about preserving and restoring culture and heritage, he implies polo, as it is part of tourism.

Rambagh Polo Club actively promotes this sport with the support of the Rajasthan tourism board. Padmanabh's mother, Diya Kumari, holds the position of Deputy Minister and Minister of Tourism. Last month, a delegation from the UAE visited Jaipur to discuss cooperation in polo, horses, and tourism, showing particular interest in the Marwari horse, a local breed of Rajasthan.

Padmanabh reported that the delegation was very interested in observing these horses. They discussed opportunities to encourage active cultural exchange between the UAE, Rajasthan Tourism, and Rambagh Polo Club, noting their willingness to support polo and ensure global recognition for this magnificent breed that has served Rajasthan for centuries.

Access to a suitable field remains a problem. Active polo communities supported by the Army, professional players, and corporate sponsors exist in Delhi, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. However, Rajput worries that changing venues could harm the sport, spectators, and sponsors. He recalls that the finals of all elite tournaments in Delhi were traditionally held at the Jaipur Polo Ground, located in the heart of Delhi. Unfortunately, this field was lost several months ago, and now more matches will be held at the Army Polo and Riding Centre. He regrets the loss of the central Delhi ground, as more spectators and sponsors gathered there, and this number will now decrease.

He sees encouraging signs in the increase in the number of young players involved in the sport. Rajput added that the number of imported horses increases annually, as does the number of children wishing to participate in competitions. If there were about four teams in the Junior National Championship before, there are now six or seven.

Although polo remains an expensive pursuit, schools help introduce children to it. Many educational institutions, such as Mayo and Delhi College, offer equestrian and polo lessons, and they are developing very well.

Demand for lessons in Jaipur already exceeds the capacity of the Sawai Man Singh Polo School and Academy. Padmanabh mentioned that this school was founded several years ago and is unique in its kind, showing excellent results. It has 50 students, which is the maximum capacity, and it has had a waiting list for the past three years. Due to the limited number of horses, they cannot accept more students, but the school is located in the city center and is subsidized by the polo club. Padmanabh donated some of his horses to the academy and often visits to mentor the students. When someone achieves success, he takes them out for training with him.

Padmanabh noted that the experience of playing polo in Jaipur after dark spans over a century. He described a brass ball for night polo with a small candle inside, used by women who played at night. When matches are held under floodlights at Rambagh, the horse regimen needs to be changed. Matches fall during what is usually their dinner time. Padmanabh stated that this does not cause major changes; they just need to adjust feeding times, so they have to adapt schedules.

The horses have successfully adapted to the later times without problems. He added that they feel better because they avoid the daytime heat and do not have issues with food, water, or rest.