PTJan/Feb 2010 p32-33 Paki JM PJ YC MB 21/1/10 16:37 Page 2
Report Pakistan
Fierce, fast fighting
on the Eastern front
Teams flocked to Lahore at Christmas and New Year, with local stars battling
for glory, says Clare Sheikh, whose team narrowly missed two finals
he festive season has seen Freshwater Polo got off to a strong start, Mecca, and their HSBC team cruised to the
T
some electrifying polo in scoring a crushing 7-0 victory in two final against Zong with strong support from
Lahore. As the weather cools to chukkas over fellow six-goal team veteran three-goal player, Atif Tiwana, and
a balmy 23 degrees, ZICoil/ASC. This was followed by a further youthful one goaler, Hashim Kamal Agha.
temperatures on the polo two-chukka win over Artex with the score This combination proved irresistible in a
grounds have risen steadily during at 5-2. Both games featured some tense Boxing Day final, culminating in a 6-5
December. Tournaments reached six and sensational goals from Pakistan's highest victory for HSBC.
eight-goal levels at the end of 2009, with ranked player, Hissam Hyder (5), to the The New Year eight-goal tournament, the
the Silk Bank Polo Cup seeing a robust entry delight of the local crowd as well as from Major General Bilal Omer Khan Memorial
of 18 teams. three-goaler Ahmed Ali Tiwana, who Cup, drew an equally strong field and much
debate went into shaping the two pools to
ensure the right balance of competition. In
Pool A, Freshwater and HSBC both got off
to a strong start. Freshwater banished
Pakistan Rangers 7-11/2, despite an early
and elegant own goal from Hissam Hyder,
and then went on to administer a thrashing
to Shaukat Malik's Security 2000 team
closing the match at 111/2-2 .
Meanwhile HSBC, flushed with victory
from the previous week and with a slightly
new line up featuring three-goaler Saquib
Khakwani, vanquished Malir Garrison and
Arsenal. The semi-final between Freshwater
(six goals) and HSBC (eight goals) was
closely contested and argumentative, with
Umpires and teams dismount for the inauguration of the new number one ground at Lahore Polo Club
the lead changing hands many times and
moments when it seemed the umpires
Upcoming youngster Hamza Mawaz, who might send off the leading players.
played such a flamboyant role in the early Amir and Haris Sufi High points included a superb backhand
season matches, was sadly absent from the
draw. He could be seen hobbling about
returned to the fray,
goal from an improbable angle by Hissam
Hyder and an epic gallop down the field by
disconsolately following a fall in Argentina
fresh from their recent
Sufi Amir, his heroic goal wildly applauded
which left him with a distinctly
cumbersome broken foot and six months
pilgrimage to Mecca
by the crowd.
On the other side of the draw, Guard Rice
out of the game. made good progress, defeating Powersoft
The opening skirmishes were vigorously displayed real bravado by whacking in some and Ilaan London until a rendezvous with
contested and included a spectacular of his goals from an eye-watering distance. Diamond Paints proved to be their nemesis
tumble when Mohammed Usman's horse Freshwater met their nemesis in the second leaving them trailing at 9-4.
executed an extremely elegant cartwheel at round where a tough 3-3 draw against The final, between Diamond Paints and
full gallop, shooting his rider across the Zong cost them a place in the final by one HSBC, was equally exciting with the score 9-9
pitch like a human cannon ball. Despite goal despite some strong support from 0- in the final chukka. In the last moments,
their gymnastic performance, horse and goaler, Ayyaz Sheikh. Diamond Paints clinched the victory with a
rider were unhurt but took a rest and left On the other side of the draw, local fortunate penalty. The match featured some
their Gomila Intersole team to a narrow patrons Amir and Haris Sufi returned to the outstanding goals from the Diamond Paints
victory over Pakistan Rangers. fray, fresh from their recent pilgrimage to patron, Mir Shoaib Ahmad. F
32 January/February 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk
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