LAHORE
The National Polo Championship for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup will stroll into action today (Tuesday) here at the Lahore Polo Club (LPC) ground.
Bank Alfalah is sponsoring the 52nd edition of Pakistan’s premier polo event. As many as seven teams are appearing in the two-week event, being played from March 2 to 15. The tournament will be organised on full league system with top two teams on point’s ladder playing the final.
The national championship for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup is the elite event in the national calendar and is played in the handicap limit of 10-14 goals. The high-goals polo events of the season culminate in the National Polo Championship and all top notch teams and players prepare for months to win the coveted trophy.
Speaking at the press briefing, LPC president Abdul Haye Mehta said: “With six foreign players in action, four of them from Argentina and one each from Chile and Brazil, we are looking at a very exciting tournament.”
“Special emphasis was laid on preparing the grounds this year. In the build-up, special measures were taken to ensure that the grounds sustain their quality throughout the events. We sought the services of best local and foreign consultants for the fertilization of grass and retention/endurance of quality. With over 150 Argentinean mares in action, we hope that that this year’s event will provide the best quality polo to the fans and the connoisseurs alike,” he added.
Colony Sugar is the defending champions while the seven participating teams are Daewoo Pakistan, Newage/Master Paints, Guard Group, Royal Residencia/Learning Alliance, Master Paints, Wi-Tribe Shahsawars and Army/Bank Alfalah. Bank Alfalah chief marketing officer Aly Mustansir said: “The Bank continues to play a key role in fostering talent in sports with a view to nurture youth and encourage community development in Pakistan. For the last seven years, we have been supporting talent in polo.”