LAHORE - Three matches were decided on the third day of the Brighto Paints Lahore Open Polo Championship 2021 that was formally declared opened by the sponsors Brighto Paints and management of Lahore Polo Club.
BN/Diamond Paints, Remounts and Rijas Development/Master Paints recorded contrastive victories in their respective matches here at historic Lahore Polo Club ground on Thursday. In the first match of the day, BN/Diamond Paints beat Coca Cola Polo Team by 7-6. Ahmed Ali Tiwana and Abdul Rehman Monnoo were heroes of the day from the winning side as they fired in four and three goals respectively. From the losing team, Tomas Reinoso, Waqas Khan and Shaikh M Raffay converted three, two and one goal respectively.
In the second match of the day, Remounts outsmarted Monnoo Polo by 8-3. Hero Raja Temur Nadeem fired in fabulous five goals while Nicolas Antinori, Swr (R) Naeem and ALD (R) Imran Shahid hit one goal apiece. From the losing side, Amir Raza Behboudi banged in a brace and Babar Monnoo struck one.
The third and last match of the day saw Rijas Development/Master Paints beating Newage Cables/Rizvi’s by a narrow margin of 8-7. Mannuel Carranza smashed in superb seven goals from the winning side while Mohib Shahzad hit one. Tomas Marin Moreno hammered all the seven goals from the losing team. Today (Friday), three more matches will be decided.
Earlier in a press conference held here at the Lahore Polo Club, the managements of sponsors Brighto Paints and Lahore Polo Club formally declared the Brighto Paints Lahore Open Polo Championship 2021 opened. The crowded press conference was addressed by Brighto Paints Director Marketing Kh Zain Sikka, Brand Manager Ali Khan, LPC Secretary Agha Murtaza Ali Khan and executive committee member Agha Najeeb Raza in the presence of LPC senior members Mir Shoaib Ahmed, CEO Diamond Paints, Faisal Shahzad, CEO Rijas Development, Taimur Ali Malik, Director Guard Group, Adnan Jalil Azam and Alman Jalil Azam, Directors Newage Cables, Maj Junaid of Remounts, foreign polo players, members and media men.
Addressing the press briefing, Brighto Paints Director Kh Zain Sikka said: “Brighto Paints is Pakistan’s multinational brand and after sponsoring cricket, we have now started supporting polo and We will continue to sponsor and support this beautiful game and try to play our key role in further promoting this game in the country.”
Brand Manager Ali Khan said: “Being one of the major brands of the country, it is our social responsibility to keep supporting sports in the country. In this regard, we have a clear policy of keeping the grounds populated with the players. We are grateful to LPC management for providing us an opportunity to organize a prestigious polo tournament at the historic Lahore Polo Club. We will continue this support in future too.”
LPC Executive Committee member Agha Najeeb Raza said: “Total 11 teams are featuring in this two-week long eight-goal tournament. We are thankful to our sponsors, Brighto Paints, for patronizing polo, which is the game of kings and knights. We are hopeful that they will continue their generous support and play a key role in promotion of polo in Pakistan.”
LPC Secretary Agha Murtaza Ali Khan said: “Top national and international polo players are taking part in this two-week long eight-goal tournament, who include Argentina, England, Ireland, Iran, Singapore and top local players have been exhibiting their prowess during the prestigious event. The finals will be played on December 19.”