Moto Polo rides into India: high-octane sport debuts at Motoverse Goa

More than a century after it was first recognised as an organised sport in global motorcycling circles, Moto Polo made its official entry in India at the recently concluded Motoverse, held at Vagator Hill Top in Goa. The sport was introduced by the British brand Malle London, known for its motorcycle-centric events and credited with reviving Moto Polo around 2017.

Speaking exclusively to The Statesman, Jonny Cazzola, co-founder of Malle London, described Moto Polo as a high-velocity sport demanding flawless coordination between rider and machine. Played between two teams of five players each, with one substitute, the game requires participants to remain seated on their motorcycles while using their feet and the bike’s front tyre to drive a large leather ball across the field.

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A match is divided into two halves of ten minutes, with teams attempting to score as many goals as possible amid a blur of dust, speed, and tightly packed manoeuvres. Kozola noted the sport’s inherently chaotic and risky nature, which adds to its thrill and challenge.

Moto Polo’s origins trace back to the mid-1920s, when it first emerged as a formally organised sport. However, the modern-day Motopolo matches were held at The Malle Mile in London, an annual custom motorcycle racing festival, in 2017.

The sport’s debut in India at Motoverse witnessed enthusiastic participation from Indian teams, marking a significant step in introducing this niche yet electrifying motorsport to Indian audiences.

At the debut edition of the Indian Moto Polo Championship in Goa, organisers described the event as “essentially a game of football played on motorcycles,” marking a first for the country. “This edition featured four teams competing in the Motoverse Championship, beginning with two heats, followed by a semi-final and culminating in the final match,” said Johnny Cazzola, co-founder of Malle London.

Cazzola highlighted the long-standing association between Malle and Royal Enfield, noting, “We’ve been working with Royal Enfield for around ten years. They’ve supported our races and rallies, providing us with rally bikes and forming the backbone of our events.”

Speaking about the response from Indian riders, he said the enthusiasm was remarkable. To suit the Motoverse format, Malle tweaked the usual tournament structure. “Normally, we field a single Malle team of five players, four on the pitch and one substitute, and compete against other teams. But for this championship in Goa, we invited teams from across India, including Delhi, Ladakh, and Bengaluru. Each Malle player served as captain of an Indian team,” he explained.

Cazzola described the experience of training and competing with local riders as “truly special,” adding that the Indian teams had performed impressively despite most participants playing the sport for the first time.

On the absence of women riders in the current edition, he said discussions were underway with Royal Enfield to ensure female participation in 2026. “In England, we have a big female riding community with dedicated teams and race classes for women. Our races are open to all genders and experience levels. We’re confident that next year, we’ll see female bikers on the field as well,” he added.