ABU DHABI: The inaugural edition of the Sultan Bin Zayed Cup will take place at the state-of-art Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club from Jan. 19 to Feb. 1.

The tournament will be held in memory of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed, younger brother of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who served as the President’s Representative and died in 2019.

The event will be held under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.

The draw ceremony for the prestigious competition was held at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club on Monday in the presence of His Excellency, Zayed Khalifa Zayed Al Aboudi Al Zaabi, Executive Director of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, His Excellency Nasser Al Shamsi, captain Ghantoot team, and the representatives of other teams.

The 14-day-long (4-6 handicap) tournament will see the participation of seven teams, including the hosts, who are fielding two teams Ghantoot A and B, Abu Dhabi, Bin Drai, RA Noon, Ankora, Sarissa Mo. All the participating seven boast a mix of the best Emirati and international players.

Keeping the Sheikh Sultan’s memory alive, the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club management named Field number 1 at the club as Sultan Bin Zayed field during the last season.

Speaking after the draw, Zaabi said naming the tournament as Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Cup is a way of paying tribute to him.

“Sheikh Sultan had a great love for his nation and worked relentlessly towards preserving its rich heritage. He had a special passion for heritage and loved falconry. Sheikh Sultan also had a great passion for camels — an animal he had for long regarded as an important symbol of the UAE’s heritage. His humanitarian actions and generosity touched many people of all nationalities and religions.

Zaabi wished good luck to all the participating teams. “We look forward to seeing some exciting matches being played at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.”

Speaking about the event, Zaabi said: “This meticulously-planned tournament is expected to exhibit polo of a very high order, with great depth in ponies as well as depth in players’ skill on show.

“The event aims to throw up some enthralling polo as well as celebrate UAE heritage and tradition, a veritable treat for lovers of the kingly sport,” he added.

The tournament will take place behind closed doors in line with the UAE’s Covid-19 precautionary and preventive measures.

Abu Dhabi Sports Council will be the governing partner of the tournament in collaboration with Emirates Polo Association.

Capex.com and Yas International Properties LLC are the official sponsor of the Sultan Bin Zayed Cup.

Unstoppable Ghantoot made the 20th anniversary of Emirates Polo Championship International special with a sublime performance in the final.

The hosts produced another flawless performance and thumped Abu Dhabi team 10-4 ½ at the Sheikh Zayed field to retain the coveted title.

The 20th edition of the Emirates Polo Championship International was being held under the patronage of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club. Organised by Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club in association with Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the championship was supported by Capex.com and Paris Reverie.

Making their intentions clear, Ghantoot’s fearsome foursome quickly established the lead through skipper Nasser Al Shamsi and Santos Iriarte’s goals.

Shamsi added one more and Manuel Toccalino scored two field goals as Ghantoot were 4-1 by the end of the second chukker. The Argentine put another through the posts after successfully converting a penalty. Bautista Garcia opened the account for Abu Dhabi in the third chukker.

Taking control of the match with perfect team play, Ghantoot defended solidly and attacked with pace and power in the next two chukkas.

Toccalino and Iriarte knocked two goals each as Ghantoot claimed a 10-4 ½ victory over Abu Dhabi (who received 0.5 goal on handicap).

The winners also collected a cheque of $60,000 out of a total cash prize of $100,000. Faris Al Yabhouni and Hugo Barabucci scored one apiece for Abu Dhabi.

Toccalino, who is famous for his scoring prowess and all-around game, ended the event as top scorer with 13 goals. He was named Best Professional Player, while the Best Local Player award went to Shamsi.

Hailing the support of Sheikh Falah, Ghantoot captain Shamsi said: “We are happy to win this prestigious title again. This was the first major tournament of the season for us and our performance here will give a boost for the upcoming events.”

Prizes were distributed in the presence of Major General Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Chairman of the Emirates Equestrian and Racing Federation and Saeed Bin Hoofan Al Mansouri, Vice Chairman of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club. Dr Raisi was the chief guest. The next event lined up on the club’s calendar is Sultan Bin Zayed Cup, which will take place in January 2021.

Finally, there’s some good news for polo enthusiasts in Abu Dhabi as Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club management announced the partial return of spectators, starting from the next tournament.

It will be the first time that the fans will be allowed at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club since the sporting activities were suspended in March due to the coronavirus. The polo matches were resumed at the club in November behind closed doors.

Zayed Khalifa Zayed Al Aboudi Al Zaabi, Executive Director of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, said: “We are pleased to announce the partial return of spectators. The number of fans will be capped at a maximum of 30 per cent.

“In these difficult times, it is important to bring more hope and passion back into the lives of fans. The spectators will make return to the club in our next tournament which is Sultan Bin Zayed Cup.

“Social distancing will be mandatory for spectators and additional precautionary measures, such as the wearing of masks must be implemented in accordance with local regulations,” Zaabi added.

The club’s move follows the recent announcement made by Abu Dhabi to resume all economic, tourism, cultural and entertainment activities within two weeks. Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee for the COVID-19 Pandemic has announced that it has started working with all concerned and relevant authorities to fully resume economic, tourism, cultural and entertainment activities in the emirate within two weeks.

Zaabi also expressed delight over the success of the Emirates Polo Championship International.

“We are proud to have reached another milestone as we celebrated two decades of this event. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of sponsors and team patrons.”

Read more: Ghantoot retains the title of the Emirates International Polo Championship (21st edition)

The Ghantoot Polo team have outclassed the Abu Dhabi Polo team in another power-packed performance to storm into the finals of the Emirates Polo Championship International 2020.

The Emirates Polo Championship International’s 20th edition is being held under the generous patronage of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.

The championship is being held in association with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and supported by Capex.com and Paris Reverie, with a total winning prize purse of $100,000 up for grabs which carries a handicap of 10-12 goals.

Ghantoot polo has dominated the match as Manuel Toccalino fired three goals in the opening chukker. Skipper Nasser Al Shamsi has succeeded in converting a field goal and Manuel Toccalino has added one more score as Ghantoot stretched their lead to 5-0.

To take the match beyond Abu Dhabi’s reach, Cesar Crespo of Ghantoot polo team then scored in the last two chukkers of the tournament. The captain of the Abu Dhabi polo team, Faris Al Yabhouni, who received 0.5 goals on handicap, opened the account for the team during the third chukker of the came, but it was too late. At the end of the tournament, Ghantoot emerged as winners by a margin of 7-1.5 at the Sultan Bin Zayed field earning their second consecutive victory and the ticket for the finals.

“We started the campaign with two successive wins, which motivated the team for the final. Our strategy for the final is to play aggressively in the clash against Abu Dhabi on Tuesday”. Ghantoot skipper, Shamsi, said.

“Honestly speaking, we were itching to play competitive games since COVID-19 brought a premature end to the last season. Going into the tournament, we were a little bit scared as other teams had already played one or two events in the new season.”

“Since the start, we played as a unit and through the collective team efforts we are in the final,” Shamsi added.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi team battled past Bin Drai to reach the final, bouncing back from their drubbing at the hands of Ghantoot. They defeated Bin Drai 7-6 ½ in a hard-fought match.

Bin Drai polo team bowed out of the polo tournament after failing to win a single match in three outings. The unbeaten polo teams Ghantoot and Abu Dhabi will now lock horns in the prestigious Emirates Polo Championship International finals that is scheduled to be held on Tuesday.

The polo match between Bin Drai and Abu Dhabi proved to be a thrilling encounter wherein both teams have tried their best to outwit each other. During the first two chukkers of the tournament, Bin Drai and Abu Dhabi polo team faced some anxious moments. Later, Maix Malacalza’s brace one each from Yabhouni and Bautista Garcia, put Abu Dhabi polo team ahead by the score of 6-2.

In the last chukker, Tariq Al Habtoor, Bautista Alberdi and Rashed Bin Drai converted one goal apiece to bring their team back into contention. Both the teams matched fire-with-fire till the end as the scores were leveled and it was now anyone’s match heading into the dying moments of the encounter.

Confident about his team’s chances in the finals, Yabhouni said: “Both the teams have equal chances of winning the title. It will be a fun playing against Ghantoot as we have nothing to lose”. Garcia’s goal in the end made the difference and turned the tide in Abu Dhabi’s favour.

Yabhouni added: “Each game is different as we lost the first match but made a comeback strongly in the next game. Our horses are in better shape. The key to success in the final will be a better coordination among the players”. With no fans to spectate the tournament, hundreds of polo enthusiasts have watched the action via live streaming on Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club’s social media platforms and in live transmission through Abu Dhabi sports channels.

Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club has always been a popular spot for players and fans of the game but due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on mass gatherings, events are taking place without spectators. To keep the fans interested, the management of the club runs a lot of online competitions offering handsome prizes and surprises which enables them to stay involved.

After the Emirates Polo Championship International, the next event lined up on the club’s calendar is the Sultan Bin Zayed, which will take place in January 2021.

Established as the top polo event in the Middle East, the HH President of the UAE Polo Cup will take place from March 12 to March 26 and bring the curtain down on the club’s season. The two-week long tournament is famous for attracting top stars from across the globe.

The first major of the season and one of the most-anticipated events on Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club’s calendar, the Emirates International Polo Championship, will kick off on Dec.8 with the grand final scheduled for a week later on Dec.15.

Passion, tradition, legacy and sporting elegance will take centre stage as the Emirates International Polo Championship, which will be held under the generous patronage of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, turns 20.

The draw ceremony for the prestigious competition was held at Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club on Sunday in the presence of Zayed Khalifa Zayed Al Aboudi Al Zaabi, Executive Director of the club; Nasser Al Shamsi, captain Ghantoot, and representatives of other teams.

Three teams — Ghantoot Polo, Bin Drai and Abu Dhabi Polo — will lock horns during the championship, which has attracted the best players over the years and is known to deliver the highest quality of polo.

The tournament carries a handicap of 10-12 goals and will see the participation of many young faces and, of course, the creme de la creme of UAE players. All the participating three teams boast a mix of the best Emirati and international players. A total cash prize of $100,000 is up for grabs at the Emirates International Polo Championship, widely regarded as one of the region’s most important polo tournaments. Bin Drai, led by Mohammed Bin Drai, will face the Ghantoot team in the opener on Tuesday. The match will kick off at 4pm.

Ghantoot will be in action on Dec.10 when they square off against the Abu Dhabi Polo team. Later, Bin Drai takes on Abu Dhabi Polo on Dec.12. “We are proud to have reached another milestone as we celebrate two decades of medium-goal polo in the UAE with the Emirates International Polo Championship,” said Zaabi.

Hailing the vision of Sheikh Falah and his support, Zaabi added, “It is a historical occasion for Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club to celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the top events of our calendar. Good luck to all the teams participating.

“We look forward to seeing some thrilling matches being played on the Sheikh Zayed Polo Field at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.”

“This achievement would not have been possible without the support of sponsors and team patrons,” Zaabi emphasized.

The tournament will take place behind closed doors in line with UAE’s Covid-19 precautionary and preventive measures, and the club management has decided to follow the highest standards of health and safety norms to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

The Emirates International Polo Championship takes place in association with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and is supported by Capex.com and Paris Reverie.

“There are not many teams in the competition, but those taking part are strong enough to make the tournament interesting. Looking at the capabilities of participating sides it is difficult to predict who will win the title as all of them are even,” said Ghantoot skipper Shamsi.

“Emirates International Polo Championship will be the first major event at Ghantoot and in Dubai which will be played according to the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) rules. These rules and umpire supervision make it a polo spectacle,” added the talented high-goal Emirati player based in Abu Dhabi.

Polo enthusiasts can catch the action live as the matches will be transmitted through Abu Dhabi sports channels, in addition to the transmission of all matches via Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club’s social media platforms along with the website.

AT A GLANCE

• What: Emirates International Polo Championship
• When: December 8-15
• Where: Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, Abu Dhabi
• Teams: Three teams

Participating Teams

• Ghantoot Polo: Nasser Al Shamsi, Yousef Bin Desmal, Cesar Crespo and Manuel Toccalino
• Bin Drai: Mohammed Bin Drai, Bautista Alberdi, Rashed Bin Drai and Gergorio Gelosi
• Abu Dhabi Polo: Faris Al Yabhouni, Bautista Garcia and Hugo Barabucci

The Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club kicked off their 49th UAE National Day celebrations early on Wednesday with an exhibition match featuring some of the cream of UAE and overseas polo playing talent.

The nail-biting encounter between Ghantoot A and Ghantoot B teams was the highlight of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club’s UAE National Day Polo event organized in co-operation with Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

The exhibition game was held under the generous patronage of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.

Ali Al Bawardy, Chairman of Emirates Polo Association, was the guest of honour at the event. Zayed Khalifa Zayed Al Aboudi Al Zaabi, Executive Director of the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, honoured Bawardy with a memento inscribed with the picture of Sheikh Falah playing the ‘sport of kings’.

The match had all the elements to keep the sport’s enthusiasts watching the action broadcast live on YouTube, entertained throughout the four chukkers of play. Ghantoot B team had a perfect start as Abdullah Bin Desmal put them ahead with two goals by the end of the first chukka.

Players from both teams failed to get their names on the score-sheet during the second chukka, enabling Ghantoot B to hold on to their lead. Nasser Al Shamsi added one goal in the third chukka to stretch their advantage. However, their joy was short-lived as Ghantoot A rallied to effect a comeback with two goals coming from Ali Al Marri. The final chukka witnessed a tense battle, with Ghantoot A’s Ramiro Cordero making all the difference through a standout performance.

Cordero’s dominant display turned the tide in his team’s favour and it was entirely because of his three goals that Ghantoot A were able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as they wrapped the game 5-4.

The event took place behind closed doors in line with the UAE’s Covid-19 precautionary and preventive measures, and the club management followed the highest standards of health and safety norms to ensure everyone taking part is safe. Taking no risk, the management also ensured the players and staff present on the occasion were tested to rule out any risk factor.

Zaabi said: “Through our UAE National Day Polo event, the club was delighted to join the country in celebrating the spirit of solidarity and unity.

“As the UAE’s official annual event, National Day brings together its multitude of nationalities in a united celebration of inclusivity and tolerance.

“On the 2nd of December each year, the leadership and the people of the UAE celebrate the UAE National Day, which manifests the national will of the founding leaders, and the determination of the loyal sons of the homeland, to promote the concept of the union.”

Following the success of UAE National Day Polo, the Ghantoot Polo and Racing Club management will now turn their attention to hosting the first major tournament of the club’s calendar—Emirates International Polo Championship.

The 21st edition of the prestigious Emirates International Polo Championship will be held at the Ghantoot Polo and Racing Club from Dec.8-21.

With a rich history, the Emirates International Polo Championship is one of the most-anticipated polo tournaments in the UAE, attracting top players from around the globe and delivering the highest quality of polo. Zaabi also welcomed leading online brokers Capex.com, who have joined Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club as their new official trading partners for the club’s new season.

“I genuinely thank Capex.com for joining us in the new season of the club. I also thank all of our esteemed partners and sponsors for their continuous support to the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club,” said Zaabi.

Madalina Rotaru, chief executive officer of Key Way Markets Ltd, the operating company of CAPEX.com, said: “Our sponsorship policy vis-a-vis Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club — not only the biggest polo club in the UAE, but the biggest in the region — is in line with Capex.com’s corporate support to the sport of polo and our larger social commitment of giving back to the community. What better partners, therefore, to support the sport and the community in the region and more so, the UAE, than Ghantoot.

“We’ve been keenly following Ghantoot’s activities for a while, their support to the sport and their business model, match ours. Their focus and commitment to their principles and goals — particularly to the community at large — which have brought them success, are in perfect symmetry with the principles and goals we treasure and uphold,” she added.

Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club’s UAE National Day Polo was also supported by Yas International Properties LLC, Paris Reverie and Capex.com. Paris Reverie, a French-style brand that was created by experts who have years of experience in the perfumes industry, joined the club as a new sponsor of the club activities.