Because of heavy rains, this year's tournament had to be truncated. The field shrank to 70 meters from 100 meters, and each team fielded three players on three elephants instead of the usual four, thus producing more exciting, fluid action. Showing finesse, Gurpal Singh taps the ball in a dribble as his grunting elephant shuffles toward the goal in the championship game. Mr. Edwards's team, packed with real polo players including Mr. Singh, upsets the defending champs, Nepal's National Parks, 10-8. Knowing polo helps, but it doesn't spare you embarrassing misses.
Elephants rise two inches when they inhale.
Seagal's Landing Mahouts insist that their gentle giants love to play. And Meghauli villagers, basking in the celebrity glow, protested when Mr. Edwards considered moving the venue. Their loyalty is rewarded when two helicopters land at the airstrip next to the field. Out steps Mr. Seagal, the brawny film star. Resplendent in a collarless red-silk tunic, he is shadowed by his nutritionist, who frequently squeezes a mystery fluid from a dropper into his glass.