Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: Diamond Paints/Master Paints defeated Olympia/AZB Polo by 11-8 in the opening match of the Bank of Punjab 95th Punjab Polo Cup 2024 played here at the Lahore Polo Club on Tuesday.
Malik Azam Hayat Noon, President of Lahore Polo Club, highlighted that this historic event, backed by Bank of Punjab, features five elite teams, including renowned national and international players, showcasing their skills throughout the week.
The inaugural match witnessed a fierce competition between Diamond Paints/Master Paints and Olympia/AZB Polo. Capitalizing on a two-goal handicap advantage, Diamond Paints/Master Paints showcased exceptional talent, with Raja Jalal Arsalan and Amirreza Behboudi scoring five and four goals, respectively. Despite a valiant effort from Olympia/AZB Polo, where Valentin Novillo Astrada netted three goals, Nicolas Corti and Ahmed Zubair Butt each scored twice, and Abdul Rehman Monnoo added one, they fell short.
The match began with both teams displaying formidable skills, ending the first chukker with Diamond Paints/Master Paints narrowly leading 3-2. They extended their lead in the second chukker, outscoring their opponents and making it 6-3. However, Olympia/AZB Polo fought back in the third chukker, scoring three consecutive goals to level the score at 6-6.
The final and decisive chukker was a nail-biter, with the score tied at 8-8. In a dramatic turn, Diamond Paints/Master Paints clinched a last-minute field goal, securing a 9-8 lead. With the inclusion of their handicap advantage, they triumphed with an 11-8 final score. Santiago Loza and Abdul Sattar officiated the match as field umpires.
On Wednesday, two important matches will be played. At 2:00 pm, FG Polo will take on BN Polo, while Olympia/AZB Polo will vie against DS Polo at 3:00 pm.
