Silver Cup winners ADCB Ghantoot Polo Team will kick off the fifth annual Dubai Polo Gold Cup today when they take on Desert Palm 1.
The opener will begin three weeks of polo action at the Dubai Equestrian Club with a tournament that has fast made a worldwide reputation in polo circles.
The first day will also see another game with Zedan and Abu Dhabi going head-to-head. Nine teams that took part in the Silver Cup – that finished a week ago – will be at the tournament as well as Edrees Polo Team rounding off the 10-team field.
The 10 sides will be split into two groups with ADCB Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi, Habtoor Polo, Zedan and Desert Palm 1 making up Group A while Group B is composed of Silver Cup runners-up Desert Palm, Bin Drai, Mahra, UAE and Edrees Polo.
Patron Sultan Edrees will be at the event as well as top stars Brieuc Rigauz, Max Charltom and Pierre Henry N’Goumou in a tournament that boasts an 16-goal Handicap, making it the highest handicapped competition in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
“I am proud to say the Dubai Polo Gold Cup is well established and now running into its fifth year,” said Mohammed Al Habtoor, the chairman of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series.
“The ‘Dubai Open’ has earned itself a worldwide reputation thanks to the commitment from the patrons and teams that have participated over the years.
"This year we have a record number of 10 teams – with some very well-known polo names participating yet again. It has been an honour to chair such a prestigious tournament over the years and to watch it grow to what it is today.
“The Dubai Polo Gold Cup has achieved so much in such a short space of time. What started out as a 10-12 handicap game in 2010 is now the highest handicap tournament in the Middle East – with a 16-high goal handicap.
"But that’s not all… we are currently studying upping the stakes even further – to an 18- goal handicap next year. This will without a doubt increase competition even further.”
