What makes a good player?! It is perhaps no exaggeration to say that some of the great kings and very successful Generals picked up their key men from this great game Polo. Thousands play Polo, but who are the ones who successfully climb the ladder of success and reach the top? If carefully observed, the characteristics of the really good Polo player come out in broad relief; these may be briefly summarized :-   1. Physical Fitness: This is no game for the physically weak or soft people. This is one of the reasons why very few of the very rich play Polo, because they are not hard or tough enough, because of the luxurious lives they normally lead.   2. Anticipation and Quick Reflexes: A player of high caliber will always think of three moves ahead and that is why he is always in a position, without having to waste the energy of his horse uselessly by galloping here and there. Unless a person is gifted with quick reflexes, he cannot go very high in this game.

3. Skill in Riding:
It is essential for a good Polo player to have a very high class horsemanship and also Horse Mastership, in order to produce the best results for the horses. Perfect co-ordination with one's mount is very necessary.

4. Quick Thinking:
Polo being one of the fastest games, situations change very quickly. The solutions have to be thought of, on the spur of the moment. In other words, a very quick appreciation of the situation is a crucial factor for success.

5. Team spirit:
Polo is essentially a team game. Some people are great individually, but do not quite fit in a team and the results are poor.

6. The Best Display Under Pressure:
Some players look great when they are leading by a good margin, but when really challenged, they crack up easily. In contrast, the really good ones will shine and bring out their best under pressure. Some horses too are so gifted.

7. Nerve:
This no doubt plays a major role. Some players lose their nerve quickly and produce poor results. Those who do not lose their balance against heavy odds, achieve the best results.

8. Demeanor after Defeat:
The manner in which a player reacts after losing a game is an index of his caliber. When a game is lost, very often people lose their temper, get frustrated, blame their team-mates and swear at them with the result that the whole team collapses. The ones who go up in the game and life in general are the ones who learn lessons from their defeats and rectify their defects so as to face the future with confidence, without loss of morale. It is usual that after victory in a game, the players are friendly and affectionate towards each other, but after defeat, they are not even on talking terms! Such teams and players do not go very far.

9. Conduct After Victory:
It is quite interesting to watch how the good players conduct themselves after victory. They do not get intoxicated when others praise them. They do not lose their balance of mind, but try to repeat the same performance and if possible to produce better results next time.

10. Organizing Capacity:
As in any other field, this plays a considerable part in contributing to victory. 

11. Due Regard for Opponent's Strength:
A good player would never under estimate the opponents, but at the same time, he will never have a defeatist attitude even against the heaviest of odds. He will enter the ground with the fullest determination and will to put up the best fight.

12. Utmost Care: Carelessness has caused many set backs. A good player will exercise the utmost care and will never give up until the very end . 13. The Desire to Go Up: A good player will have this in good measure; otherwise he can never improve. When he sees a better player, instead of feeling jealous, he strives to acquire the other's good qualities and outshine the other, if possible. 14. Respect from Team-Mates: A good player will inspire respect among his team-mates by being nice to all of them. He will not be selfish, but pass the ball to his team-mates. He will not curse them, when things do not go well, but encourage them, when they do well. Once liked by his team-mates, he gets from them the maximum co-operation. 15. No Playing to the Gallery: Playing to the gallery is a common weakness with many players. They waste their energy in 'showing off', instead of putting in the best effort. A good player does not bother what the spectators think about him.

16. Ability to Stand Criticism:
Most people cannot stand criticism about themselves. The ones that really want to go up listen to criticism carefully and reap the fullest benefit there from, by correcting their weaknesses.

17. Preservation of Form:
Some talented people acquire form soon after a certain amount of work and experience, but it is not easy to preserve this. Unless one takes great care, it could be easily lost. After one comes to the limelight, many worldly attractions come ones way and the great treasure gets lost, before one realizes it.

18. Sacrifice:
Any person who has become a great player must have had to take many sacrifices in life. Such a one has to be most careful and should not allow himself to be led away by various worldly charms.

19. Philosophical Outlook:
A good player is by and large inspired by a philosophical outlook. He believes in the principle ‘First deserve and then desire’. He does not allow himself to be obsessed by visions of victory. He does his duty in the most efficient manner, leaving the result, in the spirit of the Bhagavat Geetha, to the Lord. Such a person is a real fighter and is bound to succeed in any sphere of life.

Ghantoot