Ghantoot Claim Second Title Of Season In Emirates Open Home Team Triumph In Local Derby 9-4

Bin Drai Wins Sub Final

Ghantoot Polo beat city neighbours Abu Dhabi Polo 9-4 this evening (Friday) to become the Emirates Open Polo Champions at their home tournament.

That achievement marks the second tournament that the team, based at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, have won this season, after they also claimed the Golden Polo Cup last month.

Ghantoot Polo’s Emirati player, Ali Al Marri commended his teammates’ performance in the four-side competition, which took place at the Royal Abu Dhabi club all last week.

“We didn’t get the best of starts, but after our opening game we really got our competition heads on and came together as team,” he said. “Each time we came out onto the field we have played better and better and we are pleased with the way that we gelled today.

“We wanted to play open and attacking polo and we think we achieved that. Every game in this tournament has been a tough fight against very skillful and accomplished players, so we are over the moon with that victory.”

Facundo Sola opened the scoring for Ghantoot Polo in the first chukker, and went on to score another six times, while Juan Zubiaurre Canal and Al Marri also scored once.

For Abu Dhabi, Juan Amberggio and Juan Jose Stroni both scored twice to give them their total of four.

In the sub final, held earlier in the day, Bin Drai Polo beat Saif Polo 7-5.

All matches in the Emirates Open Polo Championship, which was run under the patronage of HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, are presented by Supporting Sponsor, Aigner Watches and Jewellery and held in partnership with Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

HE Saeed Bin Houfan Al Mansouri, Vice Chairman, Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club said: “We have been lucky enough to enjoy a very high standard of play during this tournament and we woukd like to extend our thanks to our presenting sponsors, Aigner Watches and Jewellery, and the teams who took part.

“It is very gratifying that Ghantoot emerged the winners from this, our second competitive tournament of the season and we feel it bodes well as we look forward to the other competitions that we have scheduled for the rest of the year.

“As is usual during our big tournaments, we opened our doors to members of the public and we hope that as the season progresses we will continue to attract spectators to come and learn more about the game of kings.”