<P> After the Muslim conquests to the Ayyubid and Mameluke dynasties of Egypt and the Levant, their elites favoured it above all other sports . Notable sultans such as Saladin and Baybars were known to play it and encourage it in their court . Polo sticks were features on the Mameluke precursor to modern day playing cards . </P> <P> Later on, polo was passed from Persia to other parts of Asia including the Indian subcontinent, especially in the Northern Areas of present - day Pakistan (including Gilgit, Chitral, Hunza and Baltistan) since at least the 15th - 16th century and China, where it was popular in the Chinese Tang dynasty capital of Chang'an, and also played by women, who wore male dress to do so; many Tang dynasty tomb figures of female players survive. Valuable for training cavalry, the game was played from Constantinople to Japan by the Middle Ages . It is known in the East as the Game of Kings . The name polo is said to have been derived from the Balti word "pulu", meaning ball . </P> <P> The modern game of polo is derived from Manipur, India, where the game was known as' Sagol Kangjei',' Kanjai - bazee', or' Pulu' . It was the anglicised form of the last, referring to the wooden ball that was used, which was adopted by the sport in its slow spread to the west . The first polo club was established in the town of Silchar in Assam, India, in 1833 . </P> <P> The origins of the game in Manipur are traced to early precursors of Sagol Kangjei . This was one of three forms of hockey in Manipur, the other ones being field hockey (called Khong Kangjei) and wrestling - hockey (called Mukna Kangjei). Local rituals such as those connected to the Marjing, the Winged - Pony God of Polo and the creation - ritual episodes of the Lai Haraoba festival enacting the life of his son, Khori - Phaba, the polo - playing god of sports . These may indicate an origin earlier than the historical records of Manipur . Later, according to Chaitharol - Kumbaba, a Royal Chronicle of Manipur King Kangba who ruled Manipur much earlier than Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (33 AD) introduced Sagol Kangjei (Kangjei on horse back). Further regular playing of this game commenced in 1605 during the reign of King Khagemba under newly framed rules of the game . However it was the first Mughal emperor, Babur, who popularised the sport in India and ultimately made a significant influence on England . </P>

In which india state did the game of polo originate