LAHORE - Habib Metro Lions defeated hot favourites Barry’s 5-2 to win the Diamond Paints Lahore Open Polo Championship 2016 trophy here at the Lahore Polo Club (LPC) ground on Sunday.
Ahmed Ali Tiwana, at last, changed his gears, played outstanding polo and not only amused the spectators with his excellent polo skills but also scored a brilliant brace. Raja Temur Nadeem equally played well, also scoring a brace and claiming man of the match title while Syed Aun Rizvi hot one goal. From the losing side, Raja Samiullah and Hamza Mawaz Khan played well and score one goal each but their team couldn’t score victory.
It was Ahmed Tiwana, who provided exceptional start to Habib Metro Lions as he hammered two goals to give 2-0 lead which remained intact till the end of the first chukker. Barry’s bounced back through Raja Samiullah and Hamza Mawaz, who scored one apiece in the second and third chukker respectively.
After that, it was Raja Temur who dominated last two chukkers, as he first pumped in the team’s third goal on spot penalty in the third chukker, while he added another goal in the beginning of the fourth and last chukker to give his team 4-2 lead. In the dying moments of the match, Syed Aun Rizvi came from behind to score a field goal to finish the match at 5-2. Saqib Khan Khakwani and Omar Asjad Malhi supervised the final as field umpires.
In the subsidiary final, Allied Bank routed BBJ Polo Team by 8-4 to claim the third position. Saqib Khan Khakwani was top scorer from the winning side as he slammed fabulous four goals while Naved M Sheikh and Omar Asjad Malhi scored a brace each. From the losing side, Ahmed Zubair Butt and Abdul Rehman Monnoo scored two goals each. Atif Yar Tiwana and Raja Temur Nadeem officiated the match as field umpires.
Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan graced the final as chief guest while Diamond Paints CEO Mir Shoaib Ahmed was guest of honour. Also present on the occasion were LPC president Irfan Ali Hyder, executive committee members Omar Niazi, Saqib Khan Khakwani, Agha Najeeb, LPC secretary Col (R) Shoaib Aftab, Director Diamond Paints Mir Huzaifa, Habib Metro Bank Group Head Syed Talib Rizvi and a great number of polo lovers and players’ families.
In the end, chief guest MNA Khurram Dastagir distributed shields and souvenirs among the winners and guests. LPC president also presented souvenir to the chief guest.