Exclusive | 21 finals, 16 trophies: Achievers Polo reveals the secret behind building a winning team
Discover how the Achievers Polo Team dominated the 2025-26 Indian Polo Season, reaching 21 finals and winning 16 trophies. Co-patrons Parul Rai and Vikram Rathore, along with stars Daniel Otamendi and Shamsheer Ali, reveal the strategic planning, elite horsepower, and teamwork behind their historic success
In a sport where consistency is rare and dominance even rarer, the Achievers Polo Team has scripted one of the most remarkable seasons in Indian polo history.
The 2025-26 Indian Polo Season was not just another campaign for the Jaipur-based outfit — it became a statement of sustained excellence, strategic clarity, and team cohesion.
Statistics in sports can often be massaged to look impressive, but the numbers posted by the Achievers Polo Team this year are beyond debate. They are, quite frankly, staggering.
In a season that spanned the dusty, historic grounds of Jaipur, the lush expanses of Delhi, and the royal enclosures of Jodhpur, the Achievers participated in 24 tournaments. They reached the final in 21 of them. Even more impressively, they hoisted the trophy 16 times.
More from Sports
This wasn’t just a "good run." This was a systematic dismantling of the competition.
To understand how a single organisation — under various banners like Vimal Arion Achievers, Optiemus Achievers, and Rajnigandha Achievers — managed to maintain such a relentless winning percentage, we must look beyond the scoreboard.
It is a story of meticulous planning, a 15-year partnership, and a strategic philosophy that favours the "unit" over the "superstar."
A trail of silver and dust
The season began with a statement in the Jaipur last year when Vimal Arion Achievers kicked off the festivities by clinching the Bhavnagar Polo Trophy.
Then came the Delhi Fall Polo Season, and with it, a level of dominance rarely seen in the modern era. The Achievers didn't just play well; they swept the national capital.
For co-patron Parul Rai, this early success was as surprising as it was satisfying.
"To be very honest, when we entered the beginning of the fall season, we got to know that the Jindal Panther team had bought a whole lot of horses. So, I had a very mixed reaction that maybe this time round we will not be able to win," Rai admits to Firstpost with refreshing candor.
"But surprisingly because of good teamwork I would say and because of wonderful coordination between all the players who played for us, it made a big difference."
The momentum carried through the winter. Whether it was back in the Pink City or in the Blue City, the Achievers' jersey was a permanent fixture on the winner's podium.
Even in the gruelling Jindal Steel Indian Open Polo Championship in March — the pinnacle of the sport in India — the Jaipur Optiemus Achievers stood tall, defeating Jindal Panther in a high-stakes final.
The season scorecard at a glance:
- Bhavnagar Polo Trophy (06 Goals) - October 1-5: Vimal Arion Achievers defeated Mayfair Artize in the final.
- BM Birla Cup (06 Goals) - October 7-12: Dynamix Achievers was defeated by Jaipur Polo in the final.
- Baroda Cup (06 Goals) - October 15-19: Achievers defeated Jindal Delta in the final.
- Bhopal Pataudi Cup (06 Goals) - October 22-26: Achievers defeated Achievers Blue in the final.
- Indian Masters Polo Championship (14 Goals) - October 29-November 2: Optiemus Achievers defeated Jindal-Delta-Carysil in the final.
- Sir Pratap Singh Cup (14 Goals) - November 7-9: Vimal Arion Achievers defeated Jindal-Delta in the final.
- Habanos Cavalry Gold Cup (10 Goals) - November 11-16: Optiemus Achievers defeated Jindal Panther in the final.
- APRC Fall Polo Cup (08 Goals) - November 20-23: Vimal Arion Achievers defeated Jindal Panther in the final.
- HH The Maharaja of Mysore Cup (08 Goals) - December 2-7: Optiemus Achievers defeated Jaipur Polo in the final.
- The Gwalior Cup (08 Goals) - December 10-14: Vimal Arion Achievers was defeated by Mayfair Tigers in the semi-finals.
- Raja Rao Hanut Singh Cup (12 Goals) - December 17-21: Optiemus Achievers defeated Jaipur Polo in the final.
- HH Maharaja of Jodhpur Cup (08 Goals) - December 23-28: Optiemus Achievers defeated Navy Polo Central Academy in the final.
- Rajputana & Central India Cup (08 Goals) - January 4-11: Optiemus Achievers defeated Jodhpur Polo in the final.
- Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup (08 Goals) - January 12-17: Optiemus Achievers was defeated by Jodhpur Polo in the semi-finals.
- Rajmata Gayatri Devi Memorial Cup (06 Goals) - January 20-25: Optiemus Achievers was defeated by Jindal Bedla in the final.
- Kognivera Polo Cup (08 Goals) - January 27-February 1: Optiemus Achievers was defeated by Jaipur Polo in the final.
- The Leela Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup (08 Goals) - February 3-8: Optiemus Achievers defeated V Polo in the final.
- Raffles Sirmour Cup (14 Goals) - February 10-15: Vimal Arion Achievers was defeated by Jaipur Aravali in the semi-finals.
- Carysil Jaipur Open Championship (14 Goals) - February 17-21: Vimal Arion Achievers was defeated by Carysil Suhana in the final.
Delhi Spring Polo Season:
- D’Monde Cup (06 Goals) - February 27-March 1: Old Habbit Achievers defeated Navy in the final.
- Sawai Man Singh Gold Vase (06 Goals) - March 3-8: Rajnigandha Achievers defeated Navy in the final.
- Aditya Birla Memorial Cup (08 Goals) - March 11-15: Rajnigandha Achievers defeated Thunderbolts in the final.
- Jindal Steel Indian Open Polo Championship (14 Goals) - March 19-22: Jaipur Optiemus Achievers defeated Jindal Panther in the final.
- BMC Advisors Northern India Polo Championship (14 Goals) - March 26-29: Jaipur Optiemus Achievers was defeated by Jindal Panther in the final.
The "Achievers Way"
What makes Achievers different?
In a sport where teams often form and dissolve within a single season based on a patron's whim, Achievers has been a constant for over a decade.
Co-patron Vikram Rathore, often described by peers as a "legend in organising," views the team not as a hobby, but as a structured institution.
Rathore’s philosophy is distinct. While other teams chase the highest-handicap "mercenaries" available, he builds from the back forward.
"We have made a very conscious and deliberate effort to not go after individually brilliant players," Rathore explains to Firstpost.
"We choose the team as per their position. First, we choose who is going to play the back, then a pivot and then the forwards. Normally people don't do it that way and we've been lucky that we've got our placements right and we pick a player to play for his position. So that fortunately till now has worked."
This structural integrity is what allows the team to swap players in and out — ranging from veterans like Dhruvpal Godara and Syed Shamsheer Ali to international stars like Daniel Otamendi — without losing their identity.
Other players that played for Achievers during the season were Alejo Aramburu, Aryaman Singh, Savir Mehraj Godara, Salim Azmi, Manuel Prado, Dr. Shivangi Jai Singh, Bautista Alberdi, Ayaan Ali, Pranav Kapur, Dino Dhankar, Hurr Ali, Shivpal Singh, Deepak Udar, and Uday Kumar Yadav.
This rotation allowed Achievers to adapt across handicap levels — from 6-goal tournaments to 14-goal championships — without losing cohesion.
The Rai-Rathore partnership
The backbone of the organisation is the more-than-a-decade long partnership between Parul Rai and Vikram Rathore.
They started with the Sahara team before venturing out to form Achievers. Their longevity is a rarity in the ego-driven world of professional sports.
Rai credits their success to a strict "no-interference" policy. "Me and Vikram... we divide our roles and we don't interfere into each other's, so that's how our partnership is going," she says.
Rathore elaborates on this synergy, stating, "Parul brings a tremendous sense of clarity, creative vision, and emotional intelligence. I bring structure, strategy, and the grounding force of heritage."
"Together, we create a balance — passion coupled with precision, tradition strengthened through fresh perspective. Our partnership works because it is built on trust and shared purpose."
The gear and the gallop
You can have the best players in the world, but in polo, the horse is 80 per cent of the game. If your "string" (your collection of polo ponies) is slower or less agile than the opponent's, you are essentially bringing a knife to a gunfight.
The Achievers maintain a massive operation in Jaipur, housing between 46 to 48 horses.
"Like all other teams, we've been getting about six [new horses] every year" says Rai. Rathore adds that their stock is primarily sourced from Argentina, the UK, and New Zealand.
Daniel Otamendi, an Argentinian +4 handicap player who has been a staple of the Achievers roster for nine years, notes that this long-term investment in bloodlines is what gives the team its edge.
"Yes, they've been bringing [horses from Argentina], that's also one of the advantages of Achievers. They've not just started, they've been doing this for a long, long time. They show you the result on the field." he shares with Firstpost.
He also explained why Argentina remains central to polo breeding. "All the horses in Argentina are polo bred and we have that balance, we have the climate, we have the facilities to play. We can play all year round, that's why."
Loyalty & Logistics
When asked why he chooses to stick with Achievers during his time in India, Otamendi makes it sounds very obvious. "It's a well-organised team. They look after me, they look after everything and I quite like the way that they are well prepared in advance." he says.
For a player like Syed Shamsheer Ali, one of India's most decorated polo exports, the choice to play for Achievers often comes down to the efficiency of the "Rathore Machine."
In the polo world, the transfer market is a frantic scramble that happens long before the first ball is thrown in. "What happens in polo is they talk to us before the season begins," Ali explains.
"Vikram sir has been very quick with that. You can't just wait for the season to begin and then you plan. You have to plan at least one year before. Horses, team, players, everything. Vikram Rathore is very, very good at this. He's a legend in the game, in organising a team."
This early planning creates a sense of psychological safety for the players. They aren't just "hired guns", they are part of a pre-set strategy.
More than just winning
Winning 16 trophies is an exercise in excellence, but Rathore views the team's role as something larger: a nursery for the future of Indian polo.
At a time when the sport faces challenges in attracting new blood due to the sheer cost of entry, Achievers provides a platform for young talent.
"We are the only team that plays all polo centres across India," Rathore notes.
"We have given opportunities to many young players to play with us. They get a chance to play with a good team against good players and with good players. They get the exposure and the match experience that is needed. Today all the young players that you see have blossomed into good players."
For Rathore, the "Achiever" brand isn't just about the handicap on a player’s card, it’s about their character. He is known for being a disciplinarian who respects the traditions of the "Sport of Kings."
"I tell young players that discipline begins long before they mount the horse. It’s in how they train, how they treat the grooms, how they listen, how they lose, and how they win. Sportsmanship is not an act — it is a mindset. Respect the horse, respect the opponent, and remember that polo is a privilege."
Here to stay
Despite the overwhelming success, the patrons remain humble. Rai is quick to point out that in polo, the bounce of the ball and the whistle of the umpire can change everything.
"I would think that it is good teamwork, good coordination and yes of course I would say the major thing is luck was on our side. Couple of tournaments were such that they could have gone Jindal’s way, easily. But I would say it was mainly luck."
Whether it was luck or the result of having world-class horses and a decade of strategic planning, the results speak for themselves. The 2025-26 season concluded with the Achievers lifting the most of the trophies, cementing their status as the apex predator of the Indian circuit.
As the dust settles on the Indian Polo Season, the team is finally taking a well-deserved breather. But the rest won't last long.
With a legacy spanning 15 years and a partnership that seems unbreakable, the Achievers are already looking toward the 2026-27 season.
"We’re definitely taking a break and of course we'll continue, hopefully, adding some new horses," says Rai. When asked if the Achievers are here to stay, her answer is immediate and definitive.
"Of course. 15 years together. It's a legacy."
At Firstpost, we extensively covered Indian polo through the 2024-25 season, first focusing on the origins of the sport, and then diving deep into the role of the Indian Armed Forces in reviving polo as well as the challenges the sport faces in the subcontinent.
Now we are at the end of our new series of features focusing on the 2025-26 Indian polo season.
Inhaling global affairs on a daily basis, Anmol likes to cover stories that intrigue him, especially around history, climate change and polo. He has far too many disparate interests with a constant itch for travel. You can follow him on X (_anmol_singla), and please feel free to reach out to him at anmol.singla@nw18.com for tips, feedback or travel recommendations
Tags
'It's not over yet': PV Sindhu makes bold declaration following historic Japan Open title victory
The Luis de la Fuente effect: Spain’s secret weapon in their 2026 World Cup victory
Rodri beats Messi to win Golden Boot award; Check out full list of 2026 World Cup award winners
Messi breaks down after World Cup defeat, shares touching hug with Lamine Yamal
FIFA World Cup jackpot: What does Spain take home after beating Argentina?