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Slowly but steadily, Arena polo begins to establish itself in the world And since those who practice it agree that: This is not a threat to traditional polo, but rather an entry point. nevertheless, In Argentina, it was met with resistance.
America, with its strong traditions, continues to grow, Because it’s safer, more economical, and expands access for those who want to start playing polo. There, this variant has ancient roots, with the first polo match being played on a sandy beach in 1876. Currently, there are 260 playing fields and large nurseries in schools and universities. moreover, 60% of amateur athletes move out of the sand and onto the grass.
“Arena polo allows us to bring a game to the city with artificial lights and spectators very close together, like horse hockey. It’s a great way to introduce new players. It’s less intimidating and you can really learn the game,” he explains. nation Robin Sanchezis a player and chairman of the USPA Arena Polo Committee and a member of that organization’s board of directors.
The floor of the regulation court is plastered for drainage and covered with sand, and is 100 meters long and 50 meters wide, surrounded by boards 1.5 meters high, and the ball must be hit in an arc of 2 meters. It will be played 3v3,4 chukka 7 minutes plus 30 seconds after the first bell. After each goal, the referee raises his hand to confirm it and the game continues without interruption. Side changes take place at the start of each match. chukka There are four types of penalties: Penalty 1 (goal, plus 25 yards of penalty), 15 yards (no defense), 25 yards (defender at goal line), and half court. The value of the goal is doubled if it is scored from 25 yards outside.
In Argentina, where sand polo is becoming established, two of the main promoters of this subspecies are: Gonzalo Azmendi and Ruben “Turco” JabibDirector of Argentina Polo Day, home to the only regulated sand polo field in the country. Both parties are working to help this variation of polo gain a wider following at the local level. Up until now, the tournaments hosted by Azmendi and Jabib were the Grand Prix, with dates at Nordelta, Martindale and Capila del Senor, as well as intercollegiate tournaments.
“I dedicated my whole life to polo. I was 58 years old and traveled all over the world. In Brunei in 1996 and 97, I discovered sand polo. We had a nice covered field and we often played during the rainy season,” Azmendi recalls. Nation.
Azmendi and Jabib are planning schools for boys and girls, but recognize the need for more areas. For now, there is only one school. “At that time, we had already established a sand subcommittee with Eduardo Novillo Astrada (NdR, president of the Argentine Polo Association), but it is still difficult. paste. They look at you strangely. but, Many people became interested after seeing what was happening in the United States. This is not a replacement for traditional polo, but a gateway. And it’s also a way for those who don’t want to take too many risks to continue playing. ”Azmendi emphasizes.
“I think it will continue to progress. In Argentina it depends on the structure. There are too many grass fields and it is difficult to give them space, but sand polo is great for learning. The field is small, the ball is big and the horse has nowhere to go,” says Francisco Clotto.
Global expansion occurs naturally and finds supporters in several countries. In fact, the World Cup has already been held twice. The first edition was held in Argentina in 2023, with France winning. And the most recent tournament was held in the United States a few weeks ago, where a local team defeated Albiceleste in Virginia to win the championship. Napoleon Bourdieu, Damian Mondaca, Miguel Lagos Marmol, Francisco Clotto, Andres Larriguedirected by Gonzalo Azmendi.
Argentina narrowly lost 16-14 in the final against the local team. So far, they have defeated France, the inaugural champion Pakistan, and Guatemala. “The World Cup was very good, we represented our country with a great group. Although it turned out to be a long shot, it was very well organized and we had a great time. ”emphasizes Francisco Clotto.
“The truth is we are very happy. We almost won, but it was a win for us. Little was expected, but it became a big expectation. There was a field of 260 against our field,” said owner Jabib. La Carona Polo ClubZero Kilometer of Argentina’s Arena Pole. The club hosted the prestigious first World Cup in 2023 and also hosted the World Cup qualifiers in the United States.
Jared Sheldonworld champion of the American team, He grew up playing sand polo and didn’t play on a traditional field until he was 16. The most powerful player in this style, he believes that polo is a completely different sport from traditional polo, as friction and mechanics dominate and decisions need to be made quickly and continuously. At the same time, we evaluate nation Growth of Arena Polo at international level: “It was great to see all the teams grow this World Cup, especially Argentina, playing better and better with each match.”
With the World Cup set to be held in France in 2027 at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, Arena Polo is drawing a line for the future regarding its integration. Meanwhile, several fascinating exhibitions are being held around the world, such as the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, held in Saudi Arabia’s Alfursan Equestrian Village, which will be held for the fourth time in 2026, with the participation of Adolfo Cambiaso and his children Polot and Mia, Pablo McDonough and Ignacio Figueras, among others.
Related to the athletics arena polo, AlUla is a glamorous, high-end event similar to Romania’s Arena Singreni, although the field is wider and the goals are traditional two-wicker. “What’s different is we’re playing in the desert. It’s unbelievable. I don’t think we would have gotten to a place like that if it wasn’t for polo.” And playing in the sand is different. This is a program like no other. “AlUla is helping polo grow and thanks to AlUla and Saudi Arabia, the doors to polo will open little by little,” he summed up the year. Adolfo Cambiasoreinforcing the idea that all these variants are favorable for the spread and development of polo.
Argentina’s Arena Polo promoters understand this, and they are working hard to integrate schools, add players, and achieve more support from the Argentine Polo Association.
“We want the sport to grow, for boys and girls to learn, for there to be more arenas, for people to understand that sandball is not a competition with grassball, but a complement to it,” concluded Azmendi, who discovered sandball abroad and aims to popularize it in his home country.
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