Dubai: Polo players in the UAE are eyeing an extended season to accommodate the growing number of tournaments being held.
Mohammad Al Habtoor, who is the Chairman of the annual Dubai Polo Gold Cup (DPGC), is already in consultations with the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW) to push the sport forward in the right direction.
“The first thing would be to form an association that will cater to polo, and the second thing would be to extend the polo season in the UAE at either ends,” Al Habtoor told media at the announcement of the seventh edition of the DPGC at the St Regis Dubai, on Monday.
“We have been in continuous talks with the officials from the GAYSW, and now with the involvement of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) we believe we can hasten this process and have an association exclusively for running polo in the country,” he added.
Since its inception, the DPGC has evolved from a 12-handicap tournament to its current stature of 18-handicap. “Professional polo players love to visit the UAE from December to March. And they are constantly trying to see if they can extend their stay here due to various factors that we offer them during their off-season. The ideal thing would be to throw in competitions in September and May so that we can extend the season at either end,” Al Habtoor suggested.
Meanwhile, the seventh edition of the annual Julius Baer Gold Cup to be held from February 19 to March 11 at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club in the Arabian Ranches has attracted nine teams. Zone A will have four teams, while Zone B will consist of five teams.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, the first match will see Bin Drai take on the sponsor’s team of Julius Baer at 2 pm on February 19. Bentley Emirates, Moritz Grossman watches, Hildon Water, Diamond Lease, General Tire, Andreea’s, Cedars Jebel Ali Hospital and Black 28 are among the sponsors of the tournament this year.
“This tournament has grown with Dubai and the UAE and today we have some of the best polo players wanting to come and be part of the tournaments here. This is an indication of the healthy state of polo in the UAE,” Daniel Savary, Head of the Sub-Region Middle East, Julius Baer, said at the press conference.
Groupings
Zone A: Bin Drai Polo, Zedan Polo, UAE Polo, Mahra Polo
Zone B: Abu Dhabi Polo, Julius Baer Polo, Ghantoot ADCB Polo, Wolves Polo, Edrees Polo
Fixtures
February 19: Bin Drai Polo vs Julius Baer Polo; Zedan Polo vs Abu Dhabi Polo
February 20: Mahra Polo vs Wolves Polo; UAE Polo vs Ghantoot ADCB Polo
February 22: Zedan Polo vs Edrees Polo; Bin Drai Polo vs Abu Dhabi Polo
February 23: UAE Polo vs Julius Baer Polo; Mahra Polo vs Ghantoot ADCB Polo
February 26: Zedan Polo vs Wolves Polo; Bin Drai Polo vs Edrees Polo
February 27: UAE Polo vs Abu Dhabi Polo; Mahra Polo vs Julius Baer Polo
March 1: Julius Baer Polo vs Ghantoot ADCB Polo; Wolves Polo vs Edrees Polo
March 4: Zedan polo vs Ghantoor ADCB Polo; Bin Drai Polo vs Wolves Polo
March 5: Mahra Polo vs Abu Dhabi Polo; UAE Polo vs Edrees Polo
March 7: Subsidiary Cup semi-finals (6th vs 7th; 5th vs 8th)
March 8: Gold Cup semi-finals (2nd vs 3rd; 1st vs 4th)
March 11: Subsidiary Cup Final; Gold Cup Final.
Note: Games to be held daily at 2 pm and 4 pm
