Imphal, Nov. 20: The teams from USA, South Africa and France have arrived in Imphal for the 8th Manipur Polo International 2014, which will commence from November 22-29 at Mapal Kangjeibung.

Riders from Poland, United Kingdom, Thailand, Gengjis Khan Polo Club of Mongolia, India A, are expected to reach Imphal tomorrow.

The India B team comprises players from Manipur.

Upon arrival at Tulihal International Airport, US team manager Robert Leary told reporters that his team would do its best to enliven the match.

He added that they expected good competition from South Africa and Mongolia.

He said the Manipuri ponies resembled Mongolian horses so the rival team might have an edge, while South Africa had talented Argentian-origin riders in their rank.

“But we wont give up without a fight,” he said.

Leary said, “Given the opportunity, we would like to have Manipur riders in the USA to play exhibition matches as well.” The 8th Manipur International Polo is being held as part of the Sangai Festival, which will kick off from tomorrow till November 29 at Hapta Kangjeibung, palace compound, in Imphal East.

The meet also coincides with the observation of 150 years of the Manipur Sagol Kangjei team’s (polo) visit to Calcutta in 1864.

Ranji probables

The Assam Cricket Association today named 25 senior players as probables for the Ranji team.

They will attend the trials in Guwahati from Tuesday. The players are Dheeraj Jadav, Abu Nechim Ahmed, Parvez Aziz, B. Arun Kartik, Syed Mohammad, Gokul Sharma, Sibsankar Roy, Pallav Das, Rishav Das, Swarupam Purkayastha, Tajinder Singh, Amit Sinha, Krishna Das, Arup Das, Pritam Das, Pritam Debnath, Rajdeep Das, Arlen Konwar, Sujoy Tarafdar, Kunal Saikia, Dhiraj Goswami, Prasanta Sonowal, Hokaito Zhimomi, Chanakya Sarma and Ritupan Phatuwali.