Tributes Paid to Indian Billionaire Sunjay Kapur After Sudden Death During Polo Game
A tragic incident has occurred in Windsor, where Indian billionaire Sunjay Kapur, 53, died of a suspected heart attack after swallowing a bee during a polo game on Thursday. Kapur, chairman of the automotive parts manufacturer Sona Comstar, was playing in the semi-finals of the Queen’s Cup against another Indian team, the Sujan Indian Tigers, at the Guards Polo Club.
According to reports from The Times, Kapur had posted a tribute to the victims of the Air India plane crash just hours before his death. The Guards Polo Club, where the incident occurred, is closely associated with the royal family, with Prince William having played there in the past. In fact, Prince Philip was the club’s president from its formation in 1955 until his death in 2021, and the late Queen was its patron. The King was announced as the club’s new president in May 2024.
The Guards Polo Club released a statement on Friday expressing shock at Kapur’s death, saying they were "shocked" by the incident during the semi-final on Thursday afternoon. "The club sends its deepest condolences to his widow, Priya Sachev, his children, the wider Kapur family and his Aureus team-mates. We will not be commenting again on this news to avoid any further distress to the Kapur family," a club spokesman said.
Kapur, who owned the Aureus team captained by Mark Tomlinson, had regularly played at the Guards Polo Club. The Times reported that Prince William took part in the Royal Charity Polo Cup at the club in Windsor last year, marking his 13th time playing in the club’s charity match.
Sona Comstar, the listed Indian company worth £2.7 billion, issued a statement saying it was "deeply saddened by the sudden demise of our chairman". "He was a visionary leader whose passion, insight and dedication shaped the identity and success of our company," it said.
Tributes have been paid to Kapur by those who knew him, including Shalini Passi, the Indian art patron and philanthropist, who said Kapur was always "very enthusiastic about the things he did, whether it was business or playing polo". Suhel Seth, the author and actor, called Kapur’s death a "terrible loss". Seth told The Times that the Windsor polo club had confirmed that Kapur swallowed a bee before the reported heart attack.
Kapur, who attended the University of Buckinghamshire after attending boarding school in India, took over Sona Comstar in 2015. The company was created by his father in 1995. According to Forbes magazine, Kapur, who was a US citizen, had a net worth of $1.2 billion. He joined the ranks of the world’s billionaires in 2022.
The Doon School in India said it was deeply saddened by the death of an alumnus, describing Kapur as "a passionate fitness and sport enthusiast and a learner for life" who "worked to make polo more accessible beyond its traditional roots". Shortly before his death, Kapur posted on social media about the Air India crash, saying "Terrible news of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are all with the families affected. May they find strength in this difficult hour."
As news of Kapur’s death spread, tributes continued to pour in for the Indian billionaire and polo enthusiast. His legacy will be remembered through his contributions to the sport and his business achievements. According to The Times, Kapur had two children with Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, prior to their divorce, and later married Priya Sachdev, a former model, with whom he had a son.
