The second Ralph Lauren International Ladies Polo Tournament was officially launched last night at the Dubai Mall, where Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum gathered with some of the world’s top female polo players.
Hosted by Ralph Lauren Corporation in conjunction with Dubai Cares, the tournament will take place at Desert Palm from today (Thursday) to November 8, featuring three teams representing the UAE, Europe and North America.
Sheikha Maitha will once again lead Team UAE, who won the inaugural edition last year, which was the first-ever ladies-only polo event in the region.
“I am pleased to participate in the second edition of the Ralph Lauren International Ladies Polo Tournament after it has proven to be a great success,” said Sheikha Maitha.
“This year’s lineup features some of the world’s most seasoned and well-respected players, and I am proud to be participating alongside them to benefit a great cause in cooperation with Dubai Cares, a charity close to my heart.”
While the second edition of the tournament will see the return of some of the stars from year one, such as the legendary Sunny Hale and Argentina’s top player, Marianela Castagnola, new faces have made the trip down to the UAE including Princess Azemah Bolkiah, daughter of the Sultan of Brunei, who play for Team Europe that is captained by Nina Clarkin.Team North America will be led by rising star Hazel Jackson.
The teams will play in a round robin format on Thursday and Friday before the finals while an all-star game will conclude proceedings on Saturday.
Players from the three teams will be outfitted in limited-edition Ralph Lauren polo mesh shirts, which they received from Ingie Chalhoub of the Etoile Group – the owners of Ralph Lauren stores in the UAE – at a ceremony at the brand’s store in Dubai Mall last night.
The shirts went on sale yesterday and are available for both men and women at all Ralph Lauren stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Twenty per cent of all proceeds will go to Dubai Cares, the UAE-based philanthropic organisation that aims to improve children’s access to quality primary education in developing countries.
On Saturday, Chalhoub will host an exclusive charity luncheon followed by an auction to raise funds to help Dubai Cares build primary schools in Nepal.
One of the returning players, Thailand’s No1, Ploy Bhinsaeng, is thrilled to take part in the event once again.
“It’s even more exciting than last time because I know what to expect and I know that with such a good organisation it will be better and better,” Bhinsaeng told Sport360°.
“I’m playing with Sheikha Maitha, Sunny Hale, and Marianela Castagnola. That is my dream team. I was so shocked when I found out. It’s such an honour to play with Marianela and Maitha.
“I’m so honoured to be a part of the start of something. And second time around, to be back again, just happy to be here and happy to help promote women’s polo.
“Because in Thailand we have the same problem; around Asia women’s polo is not very popular either, so just to be a pioneer of something feels great.”
