Oct 2

USA Team Revealed for Second Annual Buddy Combs International Arena Challenge

On Friday, October 4, the Buddy Combs International Arena Challenge will take place under the lights at Lakeside Polo Club in Lakeside, California. The second annual match will bring together two teams to battle in the international competition honoring the late polo legend.

The tournament is named in honor of Dr. Clarence C. “Buddy” Combs Jr., an American polo player and Hall of Famer. Inheriting his love of horses and polo from his father, he honed his polo skills at Pennsylvania Military Academy before earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. While at Cornell, Combs led his teammates to win the university’s first intercollegiate championship in 1937.

“We are honored to host the Buddy Combs International Arena Polo Challenge. This event is not only a testament to our club's commitment to the sport of polo but also an opportunity to showcase the local polo community in Southern California. For our club, it's a chance to bring together talented players from around the world, enhancing the level of play and creating a connection with the global polo community, while inspiring local players.” – Lakeside Polo Club Owner and Buddy Combs International Arena Challenge participant Nicole Bankhead

For nearly five decades, Combs played at the highest levels of the game while maintaining a full-time veterinary practice in New Jersey. Outdoors, Combs won the U.S. Open Polo Championship in 1947 and 1956. During his arena career, he won the Junior Championship (currently known as the National Arena Chairman’s Cup) on three separate occasions and the Senior Championship seven times. In 1951, he became the second player to reach a 10-goal arena handicap, the highest rating bestowed to players by the USPA.

The Challenge honors Combs and aims to showcase international competition while promoting arena polo. This year’s matchup will take place between the USA and the Indian Polo Association.

The USPA International Committee has selected three players to represent the red, white and blue. The USA collective includes Nicole Bankhead (1), Robert “Robby” Pizarro (2) and David Brooks (3). Each boasting extensive arena careers, together, the group hopes to bring home the trophy for the USA Team.

Nicole Bankhead, representing USA, will be the only woman participating in the international event. ©Tequila Sunsets Photography

Bankhead’s polo adventure started in 2014 when her family purchased Lakeside Polo Club in Lakeside, California. “My husband, Darin, and I manage and operate the club alongside our two sons, Garrett and Ethan. Having ridden, owned and shown horses all my life, it was a natural transition to polo, combining a love of horses and competition to a sport that we can do together as a family! We also started a youth polo program and Intercollegiate/Interscholastic teams, and I help coach along with Darin and our boys.”

Bankhead and her husband expressed their enthusiasm for hosting such a significant event. “We are honored to host the Buddy Combs International Arena Polo Challenge. This event is not only a testament to our club's commitment to the sport of polo but also an opportunity to showcase the local polo community in Southern California. For our club, it's a chance to bring together talented players from around the world, enhancing the level of play and creating a connection with the global polo community, while inspiring local players. For Southern California, it highlights the region as a destination for polo, blending the sport's rich traditions with our unique West Coast style. The challenge also provides an opportunity to introduce new audiences to the thrill of arena polo, further growing the sport locally and ensuring its continued success by making it more accessible and engaging for new fans and future players alike.”

David Brooks, hailing from North Carolina, owns and operates the Triangle Area Polo Club. ©David Murrell

David Brooks and his wife, Leslie, own and operate the Triangle Area Polo Club in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, where they train polo ponies and run a school program. Brooks actively participates in arena events across the Mid-Atlantic and has qualified and competed in the National Arena Amateur Cup on two occasions, reaching the finals in 2023. His unwavering dedication to the sport has also earned him the prestigious USPA Southeastern Circuit Sportsmanship Award in 2020 and 2021.

Reflecting on his selection to the USA Team, Brooks shared, “It is a privilege to play polo and represent my country. International competition is the top step of the ladder. It’s a destination achievement similar to playing in a national tournament. It provides emerging arena polo players with a clear goal to pursue as they work to improve their skills and advance in the sport.”

The youngest member of the USA Team, 17-year-old Robert "Robby" Pizarro, has participated extensively on the interscholastic and National Youth Tournament Series circuits. ©David Murrell

The youngest member of the USA Team, 17-year-old Pizarro began riding and playing polo on his family's farm at a young age, developing a lifelong passion. As a member of the St. Croix Interscholastic polo team, located in Woodville, Wisconsin, he played a pivotal role in their journey to the 2024 Open National Interscholastic Championship final. He also recently represented the Central Region at the National Youth Tournament Series Championship for the second year in a row. Sharing his enthusiasm to join the international competition, Pizarro stated, “I feel very honored to represent my country, and I will give it my all to win this game.”

The Indian Polo Association has presented a formidable lineup that includes Chaitania Kumar (1), Arsalan Khan (0) and Lt. Col. Prithvi Rathore (1), with the secretary general of the Indian Polo Association Col. Vikram Singh Kahlon, serving as the guest of honor. Since the Indian Polo Association does not assign arena handicaps, the USPA International Committee has decided to follow the approach used at the Federation of International Polo World Polo Championship by adding one goal to each Indian player's outdoor handicap. The Indian team will also receive a scoreboard advantage due to handicap at the onset of the match.

Chaitania Kumar is the Founder and President of the Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club (HPRC). He began his polo career with intercollegiate arena polo in 1995 at Purdue University.

Kumar is the Founder and President of the Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club (HPRC) and the visionary behind the International Arena Polo Championship at HPRC. He began his polo career with intercollegiate arena polo in 1995 at Purdue University and later achieved a major victory in outdoor polo by winning the Indian Open in 2012.

Khan is a distinguished polo player from a family deeply connected to the sport's history in India, inspired by his grandfather's 1926 service with the British India Army. Growing up in Hyderabad, he quickly showcased his talent at a local polo club, excelling in regional tournaments. As the Honorary Polo Secretary of HPRC, he has played a pivotal role in promoting polo in the region, fostering sportsmanship and teamwork.

Arsalan Khan is a distinguished polo player from a family deeply connected to the sport's history in India. As the Honorary Polo Secretary of HPRC, he has played a pivotal role in promoting polo in the region, fostering sportsmanship and teamwork.

Lt. Col. Prithvi Rathore is an experienced officer in the Indian Army Service Corps and a well-regarded polo player. Known for his skill and precision, he has been involved in the sport for over a decade encouraging young players and promoting polo within the Indian Army. Serving as the team captain, he brings exceptional horsemanship and strategic expertise to the field.

Combining competition and camaraderie, fans of the USA Team are encouraged to attend the transpacific match to support the stars and stripes. Tickets for the Buddy Combs International Arena Polo Challenge are now on sale for $10 per person and can be purchased here. Tickets for military personnel and children 12 and under are free of charge. Gates open at 4:30pm with a warm-up match starting at 5:30pm, followed by the featured event between USA and India.

USA VS. INDIA INTERNATIONAL MILITARY ARENA POLO CHALLENGE

Following the action of the Buddy Combs, the USA vs. India International Military Arena Polo Challenge will take place on Saturday, October 5, with two teams set to battle in an international arena competition to recognize the lasting alliance between the U.S. and India.

India, the world’s largest democracy, was allied with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. In January 1993, shortly after the Soviet Union’s collapse, the USA and India sought to enhance their relations. One approach was through friendly sports competitions. The Pacific Armies Management Seminar, held in New Delhi, provided the perfect opportunity for this initiative, featuring a polo match between active-duty U.S. Army players and the Indian Cavalry. The match sparked a series of military polo exchanges between India and the U.S. Following the attacks of 9/11 in 2001, U.S. military focus shifted to the Global War on Terrorism, pausing these exchanges until their recent revival.

The Pacific Armies Management Seminar, held in New Delhi in 1993 served to enhance relations between USA and India following the end of the Cold War.

The USPA International Committee has selected three members of the American military community to represent the U.S. Armed forces in the upcoming tournament. The USA Team includes Maj. Mark Liarikos, U.S. Army (-1), Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Daniel Jones, U.S. Coast Guard (1) and Officer Candidate James “Jim” Deal, U.S. Marine Corps (4). Bringing their diverse arena polo experiences to the West Coast, the team is prepared to join forces for USA.

Liarikos is a Massachusetts native and a U.S. Army Major on active duty as a Civil Affairs officer. He is currently assigned as a Recruiting Battalion Executive Officer in Phoenix, Arizona. Liarikos began riding jumpers as an adult and started playing polo three years ago. He plays year-round in Arizona and has traveled to play in Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and various states throughout the U.S.

Jones is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and was assigned to small boat stations on the West Coast. He started polo seven years ago at Lakeside Polo Club. Jones is also a pilot with extensive experience flying missions for the military in Southwest Asia.

Deal is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia) and has joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He is on his way to Officer Candidate School at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Deal started playing polo in Warrenton, Virginia, and has since competed in tournaments up and down the East Coast. He currently plays at Roseland Polo Club in Crozet, Virginia, and looks forward to continuing his passion for horses while in the military.

Representing the Indian Polo Association and military team includes Lt. Col. Yatinder Kumar (1), Lt. Col. R.K. Gautam (1) ⁠and Maj. Mrityunjay Singh Chouhan (1). Utilizing the same rating system as the Buddy Combs, each player representing India has received one goal added to their Indian Polo Association outdoor handicap and the team will also receive a scoreboard advantage due to handicap at the onset of the match.

Lt. Col. R.K. Gautam has been playing polo in India for the last seven years as a member of the Artillery Polo Club. Known for his determination, he consistently pushes his limits and elevates his game during crucial moments in the arena.

Lt. Col. Yatinder Kumar, a polo player in the Indian Army, started his polo journey in 2014. Representing his country both domestically and internationally, Kumar plays for the Army Service Corps Polo Club. As a member of the Indian Army Polo Team, he has showcased his skills in countries such as Nigeria and Argentina.

Maj. Mrityunjay Singh Chouhan, of the 61st Cavalry Regiment in Jaipur, has been playing polo for the past six years. A key player for both the army team and regimental teams, he favors the number three position, where he excels at creating space for his teammates and executing strategic game plans.

Recognizing the dynamic history of polo in the military across the globe, players on both sides of the international battle will honor those who have served, while strengthening the bond between the two nations through the collective passion for the sport. Tickets for the USA vs. India International Military Arena Polo Challenge are on sale for $10 per person and can be purchased here. Tickets for military personnel and children 12 and under are free of charge. Gates open at 4:30pm with a warm-up match starting at 5:30pm,followed by the featured event between USA and India.