Early Life and Military Career
Colonel Ravi Rathore is one of India’s most accomplished polo players and a distinguished officer of the Indian Army. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, where he excelled in both academics and sport. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in 2000 and served with the prestigious 61 Cavalry, the world’s only active mounted cavalry regiment.
Polo Career
Rathore has been a cornerstone of Indian polo for more than two decades. He achieved a +5-goal handicap, making him one of the highest-handicapped Indian players of his generation and the highest-handicapped player in the Indian Army.
Legacy
Colonel Ravi Rathore is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest modern polo players. His unique combination of elite sporting achievement, distinguished military service, and leadership within the international polo community has made him a leading ambassador for Indian polo. Through his work with the Indian Polo Association, the Fédération Internationale de Polo, and the Singapore Polo Club, he continues to inspire and develop the next generation of players.
Beyond his playing career, Colonel Rathore has made major contributions to the sport through leadership role.
- Former Commandant of 61 Cavalry.
- Former Honorary Secretary of the Indian Polo Association (IPA).
- Ambassador for the Fédération Internationale de Polo (FIP).
- Appointed Polo Professional at the Singapore Polo Club's Atoms Polo Academy in 2022, where he trains players and oversees horse management.
- Arjuna Award (2018) – India's highest sporting honour for outstanding achievement in polo.
- Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for distinguished military service.
- Gold Medal – FIP World Polo Championship Asia–Africa Qualifiers (2011).
- Gold Medal – FIP World Polo Championship Asia–Africa Zone (2017), qualifying India for the World Championship.
- Gold Medal & Most Valuable Player – World Military Games (2006).
- Winner of numerous major Indian tournaments, including the Indian Open Championship, President's Cup, Northern India Championship, and Sir Pratap Singh Cup.
He represented India in five consecutive FIP World Polo Championships.
- 2003 – Lahore, Pakistan
- 2007 – Auckland, New Zealand
- 2011 – San Luis, Argentina
- 2014 – Tianjin, China
- 2017 – Sydney, Australia
Alejandro Novillo Astrada
IndianProfessional Polo Player, Indian Army Officer
Core Competencies
Colonel Ravi Rathore is one of India’s most accomplished polo players and a distinguished officer of the Indian Army.
- Powerful, accurate hitting
- Tactical leadership
- Outstanding horsemanship
- Calm decision-making under pressure
- Strong defensive and midfield play