Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: The Bank Alfalah National Open Polo Championship for Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2024 will get underway on Tuesday (February 13) at the Lahore Polo Club, marking the beginning of two weeks filled with thrilling polo action.
The announcement was made by Malik Azam Hayat Noon, President of the Lahore Polo Club, alongside Syed Irfan Akhtar Gilani, General Manager Central East of Bank Alfalah, and key members of the LPC executive committee, including Mohamed Nasir Khan and Feroze Gulzar. The event has attracted a mix of international and local talent, including players and umpires, signaling a global showcase of polo prowess.
This year's championship features five formidable teams, each comprising a blend of two international and two Pakistani players, promising an international flair to the matches. "The tournament will see these teams compete in a series of intense matches over the next fortnight, culminating in a grand finale on Sunday, February 25," said Noon. He expressed gratitude towards Bank Alfalah for their continued patronage of the championship, emphasizing the importance of such support in nurturing the noble sport of polo.
The line-up for this premier polo event includes teams such as DS Polo, FG Polo, BN Polo, Diamond Paints/Master Paints, and Olympia/AZB Polo, with players hailing from polo heartlands like Argentina, England, and Spain. The tournament is not only a testament to the skill of national athletes but also a platform for international players to showcase their talents on Pakistani soil.
Among the teams competing, Team DS Polo is represented by Daniyal Shaikh, Ahmed Ali Tiwana, Nico Roberts, and Max Charlton. Mir Shoaib Ahmed, Raja Temur Nadeem, Martin Gandara, and Juan Zubiaurre Canal form the lineup for Team Diamond Paints/Master Paints. Team FG Polo boasts talents such as Mian Abbas Mukhtar, Raja Mikayial Sami, Mario Gomes, and Raul Laplacette. Team Olympia/AZB features Ahmed Zubair Butt, Abdul Rehman Monnoo, Valentin Novillo Astrada, and Nicolas Corti, while Team BN Polo is composed of Babar Naseem, Santos Iriarte, Hamza Mawaz Khan, and Santiago Loza, showcasing a diverse array of skills and international experience across the board.
The championship's opening match is set between FG Polo and DS Polo at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, with subsequent games unfolding over the course of the tournament, leading to the much-anticipated subsidiary and main finals at the Lahore Polo Club’s iconic Aibak Polo Ground on February 25.
Syed Irfan Akhtar Gilani of Bank Alfalah said: "Promoting positive activities through sports is integral to our society. Bank Alfalah is committed to its corporate responsibility of sponsoring sports, and we look forward to continuing our support for the Lahore Polo Club and the broader game of polo in Pakistan."
