Tunku Ismail leads team to glory

THE CHAMPIONS: (From left) Facundo Pieres, Tunku Ismail, Gonzalito Pieres, Franco Veronesi. Front His Majesty, The Sultan     of Johor Sultan Ibrahim

 TUNKU MAHKOTA JOHOR TUNKU ISMAIL led the Johor-Ellerstina polo team to victory in the AAP Metropolitano Alto Handicap (24 goal) Tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina, recently.

Playing on the No. 1 polo field at the famous Palermo Stadium in Buenos Aires, Tunku Ismail showed his mettle by scoring in the final seconds of the tournament to help retain the title they won last year.

In the closely fought and exciting match against a very strong La Dolfina Valiente team, played over six chukkers. Tunku Mahkota’s team won 9-8.

The win was even more special as among the hundreds of people gathered to watch the finals was none other than Sultan Ibrahim, who came to cheer and support his sons.

Sultan Ibrahim’s other son, Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was playing in the AAP Abierto Juvenil (Under-21) final, could not make it a double celebration when his team lost 11-8 to La Canada.

The match was also played over six chukkers and was contested very strongly by both teams and was even until the halfway point of the match. 

Thereafter, La Canada took advantage to take the title.

THE HERO: Tunku Ismail scored the winner for his team

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Tunku Mahkota and brother lead the way

TALENTED: (From left) Tunku Mahkota Tunku Ismail Idris, His Majesty, the
Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim and Tunku Abdul Rahman at the Argentine
Polo Association ground in Pilar, Buenos Aires.

THE Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail and his younger brother Tunku Abdul Rahman played crucial roles in leading the Johor Ellerstina Polo Team to two prestigious polo tournament finals in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Tunku Abdul Rahman (right), helped Johor Ellerstina outperformed Chapel of The Lord 11-8, and will now meet La Canada, who defeated La Candelaria, 14-4 in the final.

Tunku Abdul Rahman (one goal), who is competing in the AAP Abierto Juvenil (Under-21) tournament, played a sterling role together with Nico Pieres (nine goals), Junior Cavanagh (five goals) and Alfredo Capella (five goals) for a total team handicap of 20 goals.

The team have now progressed to the final which is due to be held at the famous Palemo Polo Club in the heart of Buenes Aires for the coveted 30th edition of the Argentina Open Youth Finals.

Eight teams competed in the knock-out competition. Tunku Abdul Rahman's team won two games to reach the final. 

Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail scored twice while competing in the AAP Metropolitano Alto Handicap 24-Goal Tournament.

Tunku Ismail is playing alongside two 10-goal brothers, Gonzalito Pieres and Facundo Pieres, and is supported by teammates Franco Veronesi playing off a three-goal handicap. The team’s team handicap is 24 goals.

His team too won their group matches and have progressed to the final.

Tunku Mahkota's tournament consists of 10 teams competing and his team, Johor Ellerstina received a bye in the first round and then required two wins to reach the final.

All matches are at Argentine Polo Association grounds in Pilar, Buenos Aires.

Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim is also in Buenos Aires to provide support and encouragement to his sons during their tournament.

Before leaving for Argentina, Sultan Ibrahim told sports247.my that he was impressed and proud of both his princes for being seleted for the tournament that attracted world class players.

 “The tournament is well known in the polo world and for both my sons to be playing in the tournament is a great achievement and I hope their team will do well and win the tournament,” he said.

OUT OF MY WAY: Tunku Ismail is blocked by an opponent.

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Royal Johor wins a Royal Pahang Classic

Saturday, 10 July 2010 23:51

 

Royal Johor Polo Club 1 held on to beat Royal Pahang Polo Club 6 - 5 in an enthralling Royal Pahang Classic Final on Saturday 10th July at the Royal Pahang Polo Club in Pekan, Pahang.   Led by HRH Tengku Mahkota Johor (+2), RJPC 1 shot out to a 4 - 1 lead at half-time with three goals from man-of-the-match Raul Laplacette (6) and one from Santiago Cernadas (6).

Royal Pahang roared back in the second hald and tied the game at 4 - 4 and 5 - 5 in the final chukka as Rafa Silva (6) converted two 60 yarders and and tap-in penalty.  But with seconds to go, Rafa was the culprit, coming across a 2 on 1 sitiuation and giving away a 30 yarder that Raul Laplacette gleefully converted to give RJPC 1 the win.

Play was slowed by overnight rain and a a field that cut-up extensively throiugh the game.  The quality of polo was still excellent as Gaston Moore (7) and Laplacette put on an excellent match for the large crowd.  Royal Pahang was led by HRH Tengku Mahkota Pahang for two chukkas before he made way for Tengku Rohanim, who scored the tying goal in the 4th chukka.

Tengku Mahkota Johor had a very good match, showing good ball control on the difficult field.  He laid on a superb backhander for Santiago Cernada to score in the 2nd chukka and made some exciting runs in the game.

Just when it looked like the game would go into sudden deatn overtime, Rafa Silva's mistake ended what would have been a great finish.

La Sarita edged Thai Polo by 5 - 4 1/2 to take 3rd place.

Royal Johor is surely proud of their excellent record, winning two of the three of the MPA International League Tournaments in Malaysia, and finishing second in the other.

Royal Pahang themselves were very proud in winning the RMPA International League with a great performance over all five tournaments in Thailand and Malaysia.  They finished on 32.5 points, ahead of Thai Polo on 30.5 points.

RJPC 2, led by HRH Tengku Abdul Rahman won the Gabriel Donoso Memorial Cup in the play-off for 5th to 9th places.

For full results of all matches, please see the RMPA's website here.

RMPA INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE 2010

		Mercedes Benz -
		B Grimm	Thai Polo	Malaysian	Royal	Royal Pahang
S/No	Teams	Thai Polo Open	Masters	Open	Selangor	Classic	Total
1	Royal Pahang	6	9	3.5	6	8	32.5
2	Thai Polo	7	5	5.5	7	6	30.5
3	Jogo - Elevation - Ranhill	9	6	5.5	2	4	26.5
4	RJPC 1	-	-	7	9	10	26
5	La Sarita	-	-	9	5	7	21
6	1 Malaysia	5	7	3.5	1	1	17.5
7	Bunga Raya / TPC	4	4	-	-	3	11
8	RJPC 2	-	-	1	4	5	10
9	Head Hunters	-	-	2	3	2	7

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Royal Pahang 1, RJPC 1 tentukan juara Polo

Oleh SITI NORIZAT SHIKH ABDUL JALIL
sukan@utusan.com.my

Aksi Tengku Mahkota Johor, Tengku Ismail Idris Sultan Ibrahim (tengah) dalam Royal Pahang Classic 2010 di Pekan, semalam.

PEKAN - Royal Pahang 1 dan Royal Johor Polo Club 1 (RJPC 1) bakal menurunkan barisan utama dalam aksi akhir Kejohanan Polo Royal Pahang Classic 2010 di Arena Polo di sini, hari ini.

Perlawanan akhir itu akan berlangsung sebanyak empat chukka bagi merebut trofi Royal Pahang Classic dan Liga Antarabangsa Persatuan Polo Diraja Malaysia (RMPA).

Atas kertas, Royal Pahang 1 merupakan pasukan pilihan untuk muncul juara apabila pasukan itu berkongsi 24.5 mata dengan Thai Polo.

Kedudukan itu ternyata tidak mampu dicabar oleh mana-mana pasukan setelah musuh utamanya, Thai Polo kecundang dalam laluan ke akhir.

Namun begitu, Thai Polo masih mampu untuk dinobatkan sebagai naib juara liga RMPA jika mereka menang pada perlawanan penentuan tempat ketiga.

RJPC 1 yang mengumpul 16 mata berada di tempat kelima carta liga menerusi empat sirkit hanya mampu untuk melonjak setapak di tempat keempat dan menyingkirkan pasukan kebangsaan, 1Malaysia di tangga kelima.

Pada perlawanan akhir hari ini, RJPC sudah tentu akan menumpukan sepenuhnya untuk mencipta sejarah tersendiri bagi menjulang trofi Royal Pahang yang masih belum dimenangi sejak pasukan itu menyertai kejohanan tersebut lebih 20 tahun lalu.

Royal Pahang Classic 2010 merupakan sirkit terakhir bagi perebutan Piala Liga RMPA musim 2009/10.

Pada aksi akhir itu, Royal Pahang 1 yang beraksi di gelanggang sendiri akan diketuai Tengku Mahkota Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah dengan diperkuat tiga pemain profesional dari Argentina, Emelio Del Campo, Gaston Moore dan Rafael Silva.

RJPC 1 pula membariskan Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Sofyan Rashid dan menggunakan dua pemain profesional dari Argentina, Santiago Cernadas serta Raul Laplacette.

Sepanjang kejohanan selama 10 hari, RJPC 1 hanya menurunkan dua pemain profesional berbanding Royal Pahang yang menyenaraikan tiga pemain.

Royal Pahang 1 layak ke perlawanan akhir selepas menyingkirkan pasukan Thai Polo 5-4 manakala RJPC 1 menewaskan pasukan La Sarita 7-3.

Rekod perlawanan di peringkat kumpulan, kedua-dua pasukan agak cemerlang apabila memenangi semua pertemuan.

Royal Pahang 1 menang besar ke atas pasukan Ranhill-Jogo dengan pungutan mata 8-3 dan mengalahkan Head Hunters 8-2 yang sekali gus menjuarai Kumpulan B.

RJPC 1 pula muncul juara Kumpulan A selepas mencipta kemenangan ke atas pasukan Terengganu Polo 9-2 dan menang tipis ketika bertemu La Sarita 5-4.

Sementara itu, pasukan Thai Polo dan La Sarita akan turun beraksi bagi perlawanan penentuan tempat ketiga dan keempat sebelum perlawanan akhir dilangsungkan.

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TRUST IS THE WINNER IN CHARITY POLO MATCH

The inaugural Saragarhi Cup Polo Match on Saturday 18 September brought together star players from India’s Punjab region and members of The British Army Polo Team for a challenge benefitting The British Asian Trust and The Bhumi Vardaan Foundation, both founded by HRH The Prince of Wales.

On hand to present the trophies, HRH The Prince of Wales met guests at a reception following the match held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club near Windsor. Organised by the Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail, the match also featured traditional Bhangra music and dance originating in the Punjab region and associated with Sikh farmers celebrating the coming of the harvest season.

“This inaugural match brought together British and Sikh players united to support the work of two charities bringing lasting change to disadvantaged communities in South Asia,” said Harbinder Singh, Honorary Director of the Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail. “Our shared polo heritage was showcased in a lively match where the charities were the real winners,” he said. The Army Polo Team took home the trophy in an action-packed challenge with India’s Sherdills team.

Manoj Badale, chairman of The British Asian Trust, said: “Support from the proceeds of The Saragarhi Cup Polo Match will help The Trust meet the greatest needs of the poorest communities. We are delighted to be chosen with The Bhumi Vardaan Foundation as the beneficiaries of the match.”

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