Jaipur, Dec 13: Jaipur Polo Team booked their place in the final of The Gwalior Cup with a hard-fought 6.5-5 victory over Bedla Polo, continuing their impressive run in the tournament despite narrowly missing out on the Maharaja of Mysore Cup title earlier this week.
The semifinal clash was a contest of momentum swings, tactical discipline and individual brilliance, with Jaipur holding their nerve across all four chukkers to seal another final appearance.
Jaipur made a commanding start, capitalising on their handicap advantage to dominate the opening exchanges. Led by HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, the team applied early attacking pressure, while Lance Watson made incisive forward runs to unsettle the Bedla defence. Their control
of possession and quick transitions allowed Jaipur to close the first chukker with a healthy 2.5-0 lead, setting the tone for the contest.
Bedla Polo mounted a strong comeback in the second chukker, showing resilience and sharper coordination. Mr. Frederic Daniel Boudou struck twice with confident finishes, while Mukesh Singh added another to bring Bedla right back into the contest. Jaipur, however, refused to be rattled. Maintaining composure under pressure, Watson converted a crucial chance late in the chukker, enabling Jaipur to edge ahead 3.5-3 at the halfway stage.
The third chukker proved decisive as Jaipur regained control of proceedings. HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh once again dictated play with intelligent positioning and distribution, while Dino Dhankar chipped in with a vital goal that extended Jaipur's advantage. Bedla continued to push forward energetically, but Jaipur's defensive structure and ability to slow the tempo when needed ensured they stayed in command, heading into the final chukker with a 5.5-3 lead.
Bedla Polo threw everything into the closing chukker in a last-ditch effort to overturn the deficit. Two late goals reduced the margin to 6.5-5, raising tension in the closing minutes. However, Jaipur's experience shone through as they controlled possession, protected their lead, and closed out the match with disciplined defence and smart game management.
