Ghantoot claimed the Emirates Polo Championship International for a second year in a row! Ghantoot narrowly defeated Abu Dhabi by 7 goals to 6.5 at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday, December 17, to claim the title. The contest has been played for 22 years now, and is one of the most important competitions of the season at the club.

The tournament, played is played under the patronage of HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of the club, saw three teams, between 10 and 12 goals, compete.

Ghantoot, led by Marcos “Cacu” Araya, dominated the match. But Abu Dhabi bounced back in the last chukka, scoring several goals to close the gap. It was too little, too late, however, and Ghantoot ended up taking the win taht allowed them to retain the title.

EMIRATES POLO CHAMPIONSHIP INTERNATIONAL – FINAL – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17

GHANTOOT -7 ABU DHABI – 6.5

GHANTOOT: Yousef Bin Desmal 1, Nasser Al Shamsi 1, Oscar Colombres 3, Marcos Araya 7. Total: 12.

ABU DHABI: Faris Al Yabhouni 0, Martín Miguel Ordinas 3 (3 goles), Estanislao Abelenda 3 (3), Hugo Barabucci 4 (2). Total: 10.

Score Ghantoot: 2-1.5, 5-1.5, 7-2.5, 7-6.5.

MVP: Marcos Araya.

BPP: Marisa, ridden by Marcos Araya.

The Ghantoot Polo Club Team have retained their title as the champions of the 21st edition of the Emirates Polo Championship Cup, for two consecutive years. The final match of this most awaited annual polo championship event was held at the Sheikh Zayed Main Stadium at Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.

The equestrian polo cup tournament in the club was not only centered to hosting the matches but it also include the establishment of various festive paragraphs, the Emirates Heritage Club’s establishment of the Heritage Village exhibition, in addition to the Police Dogs Unit participation under the supervision of the Police Dogs Unit at the Abu Dhabi Police General Command (K9), and last but not the least, the exciting shows of the International Horse Show Troupe with the participation of the Abu Dhabi Police music.

To determine the third and fourth place in the match, the Emirates Polo Team was outperformed by the Abu Dhabi Polo Bronze Team by the score of 9 – 7.5. The Abu Dhabi team’s Hugo Barbucci has scored five goals, three goals for Amadouri, and one goal for Thomas. On the other hand, Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed Rashid scored Al Maktoum with two goals, one goal for Sheikha Alia Al Maktoum, and four goals for Jacinto Croto, for the Emirates Polo team.

EMIRATES POLO CHAMPIONSHIP INTERNATIONAL – FINALS – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30

Ghantoot 10-7.5 Bangash

Ghantoot: Yousof Bin Desmal 1, Nasser Al Shamsi 1 , Kian Hall 3, Marcos Araya 7.

Bangash: Rayyan Al Ajaji 0, Federico von Potobsky, Facundo Kelly 5, Nicolás Corti Maderna 5.

Gameplay images: Bangash Team vs Ghantoot Polo Team

SUBSIDIARY FINAL

Abu Dhabi 9-7.5 UAE Polo

Abu Dhabi: Faris Al Yabhouni 0, Segundo Amadori 4, Tomás Iriarte 4, Hugo Barabucci 4.

UAE Polo: Sheikha Maitha 0, Sheikha Alia 0, Pablo Urquiza 4, Jacinto Crotto 7.

Gameplay images: UAE Polo Team vs. Abu Dhabi Polo Team

EMIRATES POLO CHAMPIONSHIP INTERNATIONAL – TEAMS:

GHANTOOT: Nasser Al Shamsi 1, Yousof Bin Desmal 1, Kian Hall 3, Marcos Araya 7.

UAE POLO TEAM: Sheikha Maitha 0, Sheikha Alia 0, Pablo Urquiza 4, Jacinto Crotto 7.

ABU DHABI: Faris Al Yabhouni 0, Segundo Amadori 4, Hugo Barabucci 4, TBC.

BANGASH: Haider Bangash 0, Facundo Kelly 2, Federico Von Potobsky 5, Nicolás Corti Maderna 5.

For more images taken from the polo matches, visit this page:
Emirates Polo Championship International

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.

Araya the star for the hosts in victory over Abu Dhabi

Hosts Ghantoot Polo Team continued to display match-winning form as they defeated Abu Dhabi by 11 goals to 6 in the 20^th HH President of the UAE Polo Cup on March 17.

It was the second successive win for Ghantoot after their thrilling  victory over Bangash Polo Team.

In the day’s second game of the day, Her Highness Sheikha  Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum led the UAE Polo Team to a convincing 11-7 victory over Desert Palm.

It was the first win for UAE following their narrow defeat to Al Habtoor, while Desert Palm suffered their second loss having the first one to Abu Dhabi in their previous match.

HH President of the UAE Cup is being played behind closed doors and without the presence of any spectators in accordance with the regulations and guidelines issued by the UAE Government following the Coronavirus outbreak.

Only players and officials are present at the venue while the matches are contested and regulated in standard fashion with official umpires, and the results are recorded officially.

Mr Zayed Khalifa Al Aboudi Al Zaabi, Ghantoot’s dynamic Executive Director commented: “We genuinely appreciate the understanding of our regular fans who are unfortunately deprived of watching world-class polo in the prestigious and signature event, the HH President of the UAE Cup 2020.

“However, we continue to abide by the advice of our Rulers, Government and health authorities as we continue to put the safety of our society at the forefront of all our endeavors.”

The ‘President of the UAE Cup’ offers a lucrative purse of half million DHS.

All games are being held at the state-of-the-art Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club in Abu Dhabi which was founded by HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and is run under the patronage and directives of his son, HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

AT A GLANCE

• What: HH President of the UAE Polo Tournament
• When: March 11-27
• Where: Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Abu Dhabi
• Teams: 6 Polo Teams
• Tournament Handicap: 18 Handicap
• Watch it Live: www.presidentpolocup.ae
• Notes: Crowd Canceled

EVENT SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

• Governing Partner: Abu Dhabi Sports Council
• In association with: Emirates Polo Association
• Event Sponsors:
• YAS Capital Investments
• YAS International Properties LLC
• YAS International Development
• YAS International Holding
• YAS International Investment
• La Roche Pharmacy

Official Car: Premier Motors – Maserati

Contact Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club

• Telephone: +971 (50) 2333915
• Email: marketing@grpc.ae
• Nesrine Bengra

FOR MORE INFO:

• Official website: www.presidentpolocup.ae
• Official social media: www.instagram.com/ghantootpolo

ABU DHABI: With the score of 9-8, Ghantoot Polo team won against Bangash while Al Habtoor edged past the UAE Polo team as the H.H. President of the UAE Polo Cup’s 20th edition got off to a perfect start at the only royal polo club in the UAE — Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.

The Abu Dhabi polo team registered an easy win over Desert Palm by the score of 14-13, in another match.

Desert Palm won the 2019 edition of the H.H. President of the UAE Polo Cup, who defeated the UAE Polo team by the score of 10-8 in a thrilling final match.

The two-week long event held in the name of the President — H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and under the patronage of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has attracted some of the leading polo players in the UAE and worldwide.

The prestigious 18-handicap polo tournament offers a lucrative prize purse of AED 500,000, of which 6 teams are in the fray.

The format of the event is a round-robin league with two top teams qualifying for the grand finals in which the competing teams include host Ghantoot Polo, UAE Polo, Abu Dhabi Polo, Desert Palm, Al Habtoor, and last but not the least, Bangdash Polo team.

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council is the governing partner for the H.H. President of the UAE Polo Cup in association with the Emirates Polo Association.

Here are the following sponsors of the event:

• YAS International Properties LLC
• YAS International Development
• YAS International Holding
• YAS International Investment and La Roche Pharmacy

Official Tournament Car : Maserati – Premier Motors

Opening Day Polo Match Results:

Abu Dhabi: 8 | Desert Palm: 3

• Abu Dhabi: Faris Al Yabhouni 0 (1 goal), Cesar Crespo 4 (1), Alfredo Cappella 9 (2), Martin Donovan 5 (4) — Total: 18
• Desert Palm: Yousef Bin Desmal 0, Ramiro Cordero 5 (1 goal), Martín Valent 5 (1), Manuel Toccalino 6. Total: 16
• Score (Abu Dhabi): 1-0, 3-1, 7-1, 7-2, 8-3.

Al Habtoor: 14 | UAE Polo: 13

• Al Habtoor: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0 (1 goal), Félix Esaín 2 (1), Mín Podestá 7 (1), Facundo Sola 9 (11). Total: 18
• UAE Polo: Sheikha Maitha 0, Benjamin Panelo 4 (1 goal), Tomás Panelo 6 (4), Tommy Beresford 6 (8). Total: 16
• Score (Al Habtoor): 3-4, 7-5, 9-8, 12-11, 14-13

Ghantoot Polo: 9 | Bangash: 8

• Ghantoot Polo: Nasser Al Shamsi 1, Marcos Panelo 4, Pablo Llorente 6, Cacu Araya 7. Total: 18
• Bangash: Heider Bangash 0, Federico Von Potobsky 5, Manuel Elizalde 6, Juanchi Ambroggio 6. Total: 17
• Score (Ghantoot Polo): 1-1, 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, 9-8

FIXTURES:

• March 16: 3:30pm: Habtoor vs. Bangash
• March 17: Ghantoot vs. Abu Dhabi: 2:30pm | Desert Palm vs UAE Polo: 4:30pm
• March 20: 3:30pm: Ghantoot vs. UAE Polo
• March 21: Desert Palm vs. Bangash: 2:30pm | Al Habtoor vs Abu Dhabi: 4:30pm
• March 24: Semi-finals
• March 27: Match for fifth place: 2:30pm | Final of HH President of UAE Polo Cup: 5pm

Abu Dhabi Club Faces Must-Win Clash With Defending Champions, Habtoor. 

Dubai 5th of March 2013: Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club claimed an 8-3 victory over Mahra Polo in the Dubai Gold Cup this evening (Tuesday) and now face the hurdle of a decisive clash against defending champions, Habtoor Polo before they can seal a place in the semi-final.

Ghantoot, who defeated Habtoor in a charity exhibition match on home turf just before the start of the two-week-long Gold Cup, now find the tables turned as they go into their next game at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, the home ground of Habtoor.

The Royal club has suffered mixed fortunes in this tournament, defeating Zedan Polo in their opening round before losing to bogey team and fellow capital-based rivals, Abu Dhabi Polo, who also turfed them out of the Dubai Silver Cup at the semi-final stage last month.

Today’s victory will serve as a good confidence boost before the crunch match with Habtoor, but Ghantoot’s players are taking nothing for granted.

Ali Al Marri, Ghantoot’s Emirati player said: “We played well today and were happy to walk away with a win, but we are a long way from the final which is our ultimate goal in this tournament. We now look forward to our match with Habtoor having beaten them going into the event.

“Having said that, we don’t rest on our laurels. Habtoor are the form team in this competition, defending their trophy and playing with home advantage and they will be very tough.”

In today’s match, Mahra Polo drew first blood, but it was not long before Ghantoot found their stride, ending the first chukker with a two goal advantage at 3-1.

The second chukker ended 5-2 to an increasingly confident-looking Ghantoot and by the end of the third chukker, the Abu Dhabi side were leading 8-2. Mahra scored a consolation goal in the fourth period, but never looked like challenging for the lead.

Ghantoot, who were in fourth place in the table going into this match, will meet third-placed Habtoor at 4pm on Friday.

25 February 2013
Facundo Sola Scores All Five Of His Side’s Goals

Dubai, 25th of February 2013: Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club have made a rousing start to their Dubai Gold Cup campaign, defeating Zedan Polo 5-4 in the tournament’s opening match this afternoon at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club.

The Abu Dhabi-based side is in fine form at the moment, having claimed a 9-7 victory over defending Dubai Gold Cup champions and home side, Habtoor Polo at the weekend in a high-goal charity polo match held at Ghantoot that raised Dhs163,000 for the Al Ain Private Centre For Care and Rehabilitation.

This afternoon it was Facundo Sola, Ghantoot’s eight-goal Argentine professional, who scored all five of his side’s goals, three of which came from penalties.

Scores were tied at 1-1 after the first chukker, 2-2 after the second, and 3-4 to Ghantoot after the third. In the fourth chukker, Zedan’s nine goal player, Nachi Heguy missed a decisive penalty, and Sola capitalised by scoring in open play to make the score 5-3. Heguy came back strongly with a goal for 5-4, just before the claxon signaled the end of the match.

Ali al Marri, Ghantoot’s Emirati player said his side was satisfied with their effort.

“It’s always the aim to start a tournament with a win and we are very pleased to go into our next game on a high note,” said the scratch handicapper. “We are having a busy season so I think that for us, the main thing will be conserving as much of our strength as possible as we look forward to our next match against Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The Dubai Gold Cup was preceded by the Dubai Silver Cup, which saw Ghantoot knocked out at the semi-final stage by city rivals, Abu Dhabi Polo. It was a golden goal in extra time which denied the Royal club a final berth.

“We played very well in the Dubai Silver Cup and just missed out on the final,” said Al Marri. “Every game is these tournaments are very close and the difference between winning and losing often comes down to one goal – as was the case today against Zedan.”

Ghantoot are next in action against Abu Dhabi at 4pm on Thursday February 28 at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club.