Pink Polo Exhibition match marks the start of a historic 2019-2020 season at the UAE’s Royal Polo Club, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

YAS Properties Polo Team celebrate on the podium after winning the Pink Polo Exhibition match at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club. They defeated Ghantoot Polo Team six goals to three in a match played over four chukkers.

A Royal start to the proceedings at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, which was buzzing with anticipation and festivity last weekend. The overall theme was to raise awareness for breast cancer and to support the community through sport.

The club could not have wished for a better start to the landmarked new season when it hosted the tradition of the Pink Polo Exhibition match at their state-of-the-art polo club in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

This was the 10th edition of Pink Polo Day, an event which hopes to raise awareness for breast cancer through sport and by bringing the whole community together to support each other in coping and dealing with the illness.

The highlight of a day filled with exciting activities and entertainment was the polo match between YAS Properties Polo Team and the hosts, Ghantoot Polo Team. Victory went to the visitors who scored six goals against the three by Ghantoot.

Ali Al Marri stole the show with a high-level display of polo, during which he scored a goal in each of the game’s four chukkers.

He was well supported by Yousef Bin Dasmal, who scored two goals, with the two women in the team, HH Sheikha Alya Al Maktoum, and Petre B Spanko, providing them all the support on the field.

Abdullah Bin Desmal top scored for Ghantoot while Khalid Bin Drai also put his name on the scoreboard., Maryam Al Hassani also showed she can mix it with the men with a good display of horsemanship.

Petra B Spanka saluted the spirit of the players on the field and described the match and atmosphere at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club was thoroughly enjoyable.

Pink Polo Day is supported by Yas International Investment, Yas Capital Investments, Yas International Developments, Maserati Premier Motors, and La Roche Pharmacy.

The activities also feature a demonstration by the Abu Dhabi K9s dog unit show, jiu jitsu, and more after the traditional Balloon release ceremony.

There were several marquees at the venue where women could undergo random tests for breast cancer and the reassuring message that was delivered was that the treatment in the UAE is free while the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHaP) also encourages all women in the UAE, nationals and residents to avail of the screenings for the early detection of breast cancer. An interesting feature of the match was the participation of women players in both teams.

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More than 15 Educational Institutes, Government Offices and Facilities and Embassies were visited by a team to discuss issues related to the illness and the treatment available in the UAE.

Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club joined hands with Maserati – Premier Motors, in an awe-inspiring initiative to raise awareness about breast-cancer in the UAE, for the 4th year.

Officials from the UAE’ only Royal Polo Club were accompanied by senior members of Premier Motors in a special kind for Pink Polo Campus Tour that visited educational institutes, government offices, and civil defense facilities to promote the ideals of battling the disease.

Among the places visited by the team, were the Civil Defense, Al Ain Women Police School Administration, Dubai Women’s Association, Dubai Courts, Abu Dhabi University, Zayed University, General Authority of Sports and the British Embassy.

Discussions took place on the awareness and diagnosis of breast-cancer and the treatment available in the UAE as the country.

Screenings in the UAE are free during the pink October while the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHaP) also encourages all women in the UAE, nationals and residents to avail of the screenings for the early detection of breast cancer, during October through many health sectors.

Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, the only Royal polo club in the country celebrated Pink Polo Day on Friday, which was the first event that marks the 25th anniversary of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club the Abu Dhabi Club since it was created by His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in 1994 as a private sporting venue

HE Zayed Khalifa Zayed Alboudi Alzaabi, Executive Director of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, said: “We have seen this event grow over the past 10 years and are encouraged by the impact it has had on our society. Events like these go a long way in raising awareness towards such an important issue.

“The Ghantoot – Masserati Premier Motors Pink Polo Tour is a wonderful initiative and we are confident that it will help educate and empower people in issues related to the illness.”

Sonny Ellias, Account Manager Maserati, Al Tayer Motors, commented: “We are pleased to continue our sponsorship of the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club and to support wonderful initiative like the Pink Polo Tour which visited major educational institutes, Government Offices and Embassies in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain.

“We wish the club, led by its (Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club) Chairman, Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan all the very best in this landmark 25th Anniversary year and extend our commitment and support to all the exciting events that will be held at the beautiful polo facility.”

The highlight of the day was an exhibition polo match between two teams representing the host club and YAS and the signature corner “Pink Clinic” which offered free health checks & free mammogram scans for all women above 40.

Pink Polo Day is supported by Yas International Investment, Yas Capital Investments, Yas International Developments, Maserati Premier Motors, and La Roche Pharmacy.

About Pink Polo:
Pink Polo, an awareness campaign initiative organized by Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club is a fun day out created to support breast cancer awareness in the UAE. Built around a polo exhibition game, the day also hosts various of activities each year; giving a variety of entertainment options for the entire family including fun activities; magic shows; balloon release; football games; field shows; dancing shows; photo sessions with polo players, and reserved picnic areas. The key feature: the “Pink Health Education Area”, is a centre point where guests be able to talk to medical experts, learn self-examination techniques and other free medical checks.

Friday 12th April: Ghantoot UAE Polo Team to play against KSA Polo Team in this weekend’s polo season finale.

As the curtain comes down on the 2018-2019 polo season at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club this weekend, the UAE’s only Royal Polo Club announced an exciting summer program of events to mark the Year of Tolerance 2019.

The polo season officially ends with a highly-anticipated friendly polo game between the UAE Polo Team and the visiting KSA Polo team at the club’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The match has attracted some of the Middle East’s best polo players from the UAE, KSA, and Kuwait. The Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club hosted an important forward planning meet earlier this week to discuss plans for the future. The club operates under the patronage and guidance of H.H. Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Meanwhile, the club welcomed HE Zayed Alaboudi Al Zaabi as its new Managing Director at an important meeting to lay out plans for the future, which include, for the first time, a summer program of activities.

Al Zaabi expressed his delight at joining the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club family who have been at the forefront of promoting the game of polo which was close to the heart of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

“I would like to thank HH Sheikh Falah for this opportunity to guide Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club further ahead in developing polo and taking it to the next level,” Al Zaabi said.

“I would also like to thank all the board members and staff at Ghantoot for their extraordinary efforts and support to keep Ghantoot at the very pinnacle of the sport.

“This is a very exciting day for me personally and I’m very much looking forward to continuing the good work being accomplished at the cub during the summer season and towards the next polo season,” Al Zaabi added.

Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club will conduct several interesting events and activities during the summer months which will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

This weekend’s exhibition match between UAE Polo Teal and KSA Polo Team will feature the debut of Alya Al Awalaqi as a member of the UAE. She will play alongside Khalid Bin Drai, Youssef Bin Dasmal and Rashed Al Bawardi. The KSA Polo Team will also comprise a lady player Souad Al Sabah, who teams up with Abderrahman Al Abbar, Amr Zedan and Tomy Iriarte. The exhibition polo game day is open to the public and offers the highest entertainment featuring a series of activities for both the family & children.

Abu Dhabi Sports Council is the Governing Partner together with under the patronage of the Emirates Polo Association, and Maserati – Premier Motors is the Official Car of the season finale.

Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club are all set for the Year of Tolerance Polo Exhibition Game 2019 in collaboration with a number of sponsors where Ghantoot UAE Polo Team meets KSA Polo team in a friendly match.

Held under the theme of The Year of Tolerance and under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the polo exhibition game is attracting GCC polo players from UAE; KSA & Kuwait too.

Meeting was held yesterday 07^th April with the organization team led by HE Zayed Obaidy Al Zaabi – Managing Director of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club.

The exhibition polo game day is open to the public and offers the highest entertainment featuring a series of activities for both the family & children this Friday, April 12^th.

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Bartoleme Castagnola blasts seven goals to deny UAE Polo Team a third successive title. 

Desert Palm, buoyed by the red-hot form of highly regarded Argentine veteran Bartoleme ‘Lolo’ Castagnola, overwhelmed UAE by 10 goals to 8 to win the prestigious HH President of the UAE Polo Cup presented by Premier Motors Maserati at Racing & Polo Club on Friday, March 29.

Bartoleme, a former 10-goal player who currently has a 6-goal handicap, blasted home seven times in a dominating display of high-class polo, befitting his former high handicap. He was well supported by his brother, Camilo Castagnola, who scored twice, and Refino Bensadon, both 5-goal players.

For the UAE, the exciting Tomy Panelo (4-goal) sent home five goals, with fellow-Argentinian Alejendro Muzzio accounting for the other two.

HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the patron of UAE, stood like a rock in the defense and when the opportunity came, took the fight to the rivals. Overall, it was a well-contested match, befitting such a prestigious tournament, which featured six teams. However, Desert Palm seemed to perform better of the two squads on the day and led from the second chukker onwards. UAE were bidding for a third trophy of the season, having earlier won the Emirates Open Polo Cup and the Silver Cup earlier this year.

Rashid Al Bawardi, the patron of Desert Palm, commented after the match: “First of all, I want to thank Ghantoot for organising such a great tournament. It was a great atmosphere and a great crowd who were with us all the way to the end.

“UAE are one of the best team’s in the country for a reason, and they showed it today with their strong performance.

“I also want to thank my team for the consistency they have showed all through the tournament. We only lost one game, so that was good. We look forward to playing more exciting and competitive matches and good luck to all teams for the future.”

Ghantoot Polo Team claimed a consolation win when they defeated Abu Dhabi Polo Team in the Sub-Final. The hosts won by nine goals to eight.

The HH President of the UAE Cup was organised by Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club under the patronage of its founder, HH Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and presented by Premier Motors Maserati.

Abu Dhabi Sports Council is the Governing Partner. The event was held in association with Emirates Polo Association and presented by Premier Motors Maserati.

Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club is all set for the 19th edition of the biggest and most prestigious tournament in the country; H.H. The President of the UAE Polo Cup, presented by Premier Motors and Maserati.

Held in the name of the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the two-week long event has attracted some of the leading polo players in the UAE and from around the world.

The ‘Royal Signature’ tournament offers the highest entertainment featuring a series of competitive qualification matches before it culminates in the Grand Final on Friday, March 29th.

Qualification matches at the picturesque Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, the UAE’s only Royal Polo Club, kick-off on Wednesday, March 13th.

Participating teams include Ghantoot Premier Motors Maserati Polo Team, UAE Polo Team, Abu Dhabi Polo Team, UAE Polo Team, Zedan Polo Team and Desert Palm Polo Team. These teams will vie to follow in the illustrious footsteps of previously crowned champions.

In his welcome message, Sheikh Falah, the patron of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, welcomed the participating teams, officials, sponsors and supporters and applauded their passion for what he hailed as ‘The Kings and Queens favourite sport.’

“It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to our ‘Royal Signature’ polo tournament held in the name of the respected and honored President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” he said. “The affection for horses is an intrinsic part of our cultural heritage from which we have taken the inspiration to create an environment that upholds our traditional values which is reflected in the forward-looking venue we have created at Ghantoot.”

“Every year, we proudly present professional polo tournaments such as the H.H. The President of the UAE Polo Cup to the fans in the UAE.”

“However, the success of the tournament is greatly due to the support and commitment of our valued partners especially our Governing Partner – Abu Dhabi Sports Council and our third year partner Premier Motors Maserati” Sheikh Falah added.

“I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to all our other supporting partners and also extend a warm welcome to the players, both in the UAE and from around the world, officials, special invitees and spectators. Thank you one and all,” Sheikh Falah said.

“I hope you enjoy this wonderful event surrounded by the spirit of exhilarating polo, which is a perfect occasion for the family and friends.”