British Indian polo player Sachi Patel is challenging stereotypes in one of the world's oldest and most traditional sports. As one of the few young British Indian women in polo, she hopes her journey inspires others to embrace a sport whose modern roots trace back to India.
While polo's earliest influences stretch across Central Asia and Persia, its modern form is widely recognised as having developed in Manipur before the British introduced it to the wider world in the nineteenth century.
For Patel, representing her Indian heritage brings a special sense of pride every time she rides onto the field.
"This is a sport India gave to the world," she says with pride. "I've always carried a quiet sense of pride knowing where polo truly comes from. Knowing that history makes every match feel deeply personal. I carry that pride with me every time I ride onto the field; playing polo feels like coming home."
Having played Polo for two years now, Patel says it took her some time to realise she was the only young British Gujarati woman she had personally come across playing the sport. The discovery surprised her because, from the very beginning, she had experienced polo as an inclusive and welcoming community rather than an exclusive one.
Changing the perception
At her home club, Epsom Polo Club, she has found herself surrounded by accomplished women who compete alongside men and support one another both on and off the field. It was also her mother, Kinnari Patel, who first introduced her to horses, laying the foundation for the journey she enjoys today.
While polo is often perceived as a male-dominated sport, Patel's own experience tells a different story.
Asked about women's representation in polo, she says, "I've never once had to question a woman's place in polo. Among us, it's simply normal and here's my favourite detail: most polo ponies are mares (female horses). So, it seems even the animal kingdom decided the girls were better suited to the job. Who am I to argue?"
She believes the sport continues to evolve as more women achieve higher handicaps and establish themselves at the highest levels of competition. Rather than seeing barriers, Patel sees progress and hopes the same welcoming environment becomes the norm everywhere.
More than a sport
Patel believes polo has shaped her far beyond athletic ability.
She describes the relationship between horse and rider as one built on trust, communication and intuition—qualities she believes many women naturally bring to the sport. Watching experienced horsewomen around her has only strengthened that belief, while playing on historic grounds such as Richmond Park has reinforced how far the sport has come in embracing diversity and inclusion.
The greatest lessons, however, have come from within.
"Polo has made me better, both as a player and as a person," she reflects. The sport has taught her patience, resilience and the importance of focusing only on what she can control—lessons she carries both on and off the field.
Her message to young South Asian women is equally simple.
"I have never seen my ethnicity or my gender as barriers to entry, so they never became barriers in my mind. The greatest limitations are often the ones we place on ourselves."
And if there is one takeaway she hopes readers remember, it is this:
"Representation matters, but it should never define what you believe is possible. Don't wait until you feel ready or until you see someone who looks like you. Take the first step anyway."