Gulf News

Bright start for polo season at Ghantoot

New Emirati women’s team give a good account of themselves against male rivals

- BY LESLIE WILSON JR Racing & Special Features Writer

After what seemed like an unrelentin­g summer, the new polo season at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club kicked off with a splash of colour and an allaction polo match on a windswept Friday afternoon.

The opening day of the 2018-2019 season at the UAE’s only Royal polo club is traditiona­lly dedicated to Pink Polo Day, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about breast-cancer, something that Ghantoot has comfortabl­y been supporting for close to a decade.

And so it was that hundreds of enthusiast­ic revellers came together at the picturesqu­e club to soak up the variety of entertainm­ent, a high-calibre polo match and above all join the crusade to fight the dreaded disorder.

Historic day

History was made at Ghantoot when Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, skippered the first-ever all-women Emirati team in an exhibition match against a team of skilled national polo players.

Shaikha Maitha and her Ghantoot A team comprising Shaikha Mozah Marwan Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum, Shaikha Alyaa Marwan Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum and Maryam Ahmad Hassani, finished on the losing side against Ghantoot Goes Pink, featuring Abdullah Bin Dasmal, Yousif Bin Dasmal, Faris Al Yabhouni and Ali Al Merri.

Despite being defeated there were plenty of positives that the women’s team took home. Shaikha Maitha looked the standout player in Ghantoot A where she scored three scintillat­ing goals, one in each of the first three chukkers.

Abdullah Bin Dasmal and Faris Al Yabhouni showed that they will be a force to reckon with during the rest of the polo season when they struck six goals each.

“These are early days and we have a lot to look forward to,” said Bin Dasmal. “Full credit to Shaikh Maitha and her team, they made a promising start. Obviously they need the experience, but that will come in due course.

Shaikh Sultan Bin Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was the chief guest and distribute­d the prizes to the winners.

The Pink Caravan, Beverly Hills medical clinic & Al Rahba Hospital conducted free health check-ups for all attendees on the day.

Also returning to support Pink Polo day for the third consecutiv­e year were Maserati Premier Motors.

The Dubai Police Band took advantage of the occasion to deliver a smart performanc­e.

 ?? GRPL ?? Action from the Pink Polo Day at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club between Ghantoot A ladies team and Ghantoot B.
GRPL Action from the Pink Polo Day at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club between Ghantoot A ladies team and Ghantoot B.

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