Ghantoot Polo will be among the top favourites for President of UAE Polo Cup

Amir Naqvi, Sports Editor

The 21^st edition of the HH President of UAE Polo Cup, considered to be one of the most prestigious tournaments in Asia and the Middle East, will begin at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club on Thursday.

The showpiece event of the polo season will be held in the name of The President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and under the patronage of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.

The much-anticipated 18-handicap tournament, which offers a lucrative prize purse of Dhs500,000, will be contested by four teams. The format for the event is a round-robin league with the two top teams qualifying for the Grand Final, which are scheduled for March 26. Competing teams represent hosts Ghantoot, Yas International Holding Polo, Habtoor Polo and Abu Dhabi Polo.

Abu Dhabi Polo will meet Habtoor Polo while hosts Ghantoot face Yas International Holding Polo on the first day of the tournament.

Dhs30,000 will be distributed to the teams after every single game of the cup.

“We are looking forward to an exciting nine-days of top class polo action as the 21^st staging of the biggest tournament of our season gets underway," said Zayed Khalifa Zayed Al Aboudi Al Zaabi, Executive Director of the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.

"I wish good luck to all the participating teams and look forward to seeing who will emerge as our 2021 champion."

Due to the ongoing global health implications of the coronavirus and precautionary measures being implemented by the UAE government, the current edition of the competition will be held behind closed doors.

The governing partner for the HH President of the UAE Cup is Abu Dhabi Sports Council and it’s being held in association with the Emirates Polo Association. Event sponsors include Yas International Holding, Yas International Properties LLC, Al ittihad, Capex.com, Porsche, Yas TV and Tack and Truck. Fans can catch the action live Yas Tv and at the official website of the tournament -- www.presidentpolocup.ae

“Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi - Ali and Sons Co. LLC is delighted to be sponsoring the prestigious 21st edition of HH the President of UAE Polo Cup. Porsche is synonymous with great sportsmanship and we are always committed to bringing these great sports moments and events to the forefront and we are always doing our part to spread the spirit of camaraderie and unity through the love of sports. We wish all the participants good luck and look forward to being a part of this exciting event,” said Wissam Khalil, General Manager.