Jindal Panther Win Shield as Shergill, Sharma Score Four Each (Img: Dynamite News)
Noida: Jindal Panther claimed the Jindal Panther Shield 2026 title with a commanding 10–5.5 victory over Aravali in the championship final at Jindal Polo Estate in Noida on Saturday. The team combined attacking strength and coordinated play to seal the title after a closely contested league stage and a decisive penalty shootout.
Simran Shergill and Siddhant Sharma led the charge with four goals each, while team patron Naveen Jindal added two goals to complete the victory. Gaurav Sehgal was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his outstanding contribution and all-round performance.
Aravali, represented by Angad Kalaan, Noddy, JM Juri and Deepu, put up a spirited challenge in the final but were unable to match the champions’ attacking momentum, finishing 4.5 goals behind.
Celebrating the victory, Naveen Jindal said the team’s success was a proud moment and praised all participating sides for making the tournament competitive. He also expressed hope that polo would return to the Olympic Games in 2036, calling for greater recognition of the sport and wider participation in India.
"Winning the Jindal Panther Shield is a proud moment for our team. I congratulate all our players for their outstanding performance and commend every participating team for making this tournament truly exciting. Polo is a magnificent sport that combines courage, skill, discipline and teamwork. We sincerely hope to see polo return to the Olympic Games in 2036, bringing this historic sport the global recognition it deserves. India has a rich polo heritage, and we are committed to promoting the sport and inspiring more young people to take it up. The Jindal Polo Estate in Noida welcomes sports lovers and families to come and experience the excitement of polo firsthand. We invite everyone to watch the matches, encourage the players and be part of our efforts to make polo more popular and accessible," he said.
The route to the final was far from straightforward, with the league stage ending in a three-way tie between Jindal Panther, Aravali and Vulcan Polo. Each team recorded one win and one defeat, leaving no clear finalists on the league standings.
In the final league match on Friday, October 23, Vulcan Polo edged Jindal Panther 7.5–7 in a closely fought encounter. Vulcan Polo began with a 1.5-goal handicap advantage, which contributed to its final score in the narrow victory.
With all three teams level on their league records, a penalty shootout was required to determine which two would advance to the championship match.
The three teams returned to Jindal Polo Estate at 10 am on Saturday for the deciding shootout. Under the format, one player from each team took five penalty shots from the 60-yard mark.
Jindal Panther and Aravali emerged from the shootout to secure their places in the final, while Vulcan Polo bowed out after a competitive campaign.
The final saw Jindal Panther translate its attacking strength into a decisive result. Shergill and Sharma accounted for eight goals between them, while Naveen Jindal contributed two more. Sehgal’s performance throughout the tournament earned him the MVP honour.
The competition featured closely fought league matches, a dramatic shootout and a high-scoring final, showcasing polo’s combination of speed, precision, horsemanship and teamwork.
Naveen Jindal also invited sports enthusiasts and families to visit Jindal Polo Estate in Noida to watch matches and experience the game firsthand. He said promoting polo and encouraging young people to take up the sport remained important to giving it a wider audience in India.
