Four teams will battle it out in the fifth edition of the Ghantoot Gold Cup Polo Championship which starts today.
In the opening match at 4.00 pm, hosts and 2003 winners Ghantoot take on Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company. Lexus Al Futtaim Motors and Emirates Polo Team play the second game.
Addressing a press conference recently, Saeed Hofan Al Mansouri, member Board of Directors, said: "The four teams will play the preliminary round-robin league and two top teams will figure in the final."
The annual event is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Honorary Chairman of Emirates Polo Association and Chairman the GRPC.
"This championship has been a big success in the past with Al Naboudah winning the inaugural event. In 2002 First Gulf bank won the Cup while in 2003 it was the hosts Ghantoot. Last year Al Basti won the final," added Al Mansouri.
Dr Taha Ahmad Taha, GRPC Managing Director thanked the Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company and Lexus Al Futtaim Motors for their support of the club's activities in general and polo in particular.
"We have seen tremendous improvement in the skills of UAE players, particularly in the recent Emirates Open Polo tournament. With two professionals and two UAE players appearing in each of the four teams, we expect some good action once again here at the GRPC," Dr Taha added.
Khalid Fayad, national sales and marketing manager of Lexus-Al Futtaim Motors remarked: "Over the years, Al Futtain Motors, the sole distributor of Lexus in the UAE, are known for our tremendous support for the sporting community of the UAE, particularly polo and golf."
The press briefing was also attended by professional player James Harper and national players Fahed Al Qubaisi, Tariq Bin Desmal and Khalifa Al Hammadi.
Gulf News
