Dubai: Some of the world's best polo players will take to the field this afternoon as the first Threadneedle Dubai Polo Cup gets under way at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club.
The tournament, which will be a 10-12 goal handicap competition to be held until March 12, has attracted six teams from across the globe, including one each from the UK, Saudi Arabia and Chile and the remaining three from the UAE.
The Gold Cup is sponsored by Threadneedle, an investment company fully-owned by Ameriprise Financial, a publicly-quoted company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Mohammad Al Habtoor, founder of the Gold Cup, who will be leading the home challenge with the Habtoor Polo team, said: "Dubai will, for the first time, stage an international polo tournament hosting some of the best polo teams and players in the world.
‘Lifelong dream'
"It is a lifelong dream to stage such an event in Dubai and a privilege that such a prestigious and important tournament will finally be held here."
Some of the most respected names from the world of polo have confirmed their participation in the Gold Cup with brothers Mohammad and Rashid Al Habtoor leading the Habtoor Polo and Mahra Polo teams respectively, along with Saudi Arabia's Zedan Polo under Amr Zedan, Chilean side Sumaya Polo with Ahmad Aboughazale at the helm, the Dubai Falcons under the patronage of Saeed Bin Drai and The First Group Polo team from England under Gary Shepherd.
"The Gold Cup reflects the commitment of the polo community in the UAE and we are confident this world-class sporting tournament will add to the high-profile international sporting events Dubai is famous for," noted Santiago Torreguitar, manager for the Gold Cup.
The Gold Cup is to be held under the rules and regulations of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), the governing body of the sport in the UK and Ireland.
The concept of hosting the Threadneedle Dubai Gold Cup started in 2009 when an independent group of polo players decided to host an international competition that would bring polo professionals from around the world to further advance the development of polo in the UAE.
