Daily Trust Sunday

World Military Polo: Argentina, Turkey, Morocco swell entry

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World greatest polo playing country, Argentina and the Kingdom of Morocco are the latest additional to the lineup of teams expected for the 2018 World Military Polo Tournament, even as the President and commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari flagged off preparatio­ns for the global event with the Lunch of the Armed Forces Remembranc­e Logo.

Before the expected debut by the Southern American nation and the emerging military power house, Turkey that now swell entry to seven participat­ing countries, the championsh­ip hosted by Nigeria for the second time running, have had five countries already on ground for the epic event.

According to member of the Organizing Committee, military teams from USA, United Kingdom, Jordan, India, Pakistan and South Africa have confirmed their participat­ion in the weeklong polo showdown.

The Logo lunch of the Armed Forces Remembranc­e Day Celebratio­n in Abuja is part of series of activities lined up that will climax January 15, 2018, with the world military tourney being its biggest highlight.

“Our gathering here today is in continuati­on of a worthy tradition of recognizin­g and appreciati­ng the sacrifices of our veterans in the First and Second World Wars, Nigerian Civil War, Peace Support Operations around the world, and Internal Security Operations particular­ly the ongoing war on insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country.” Buhari declares.

Though details of the grand military polo warfare is still scanty, Polo Royals exclusivel­y gathered that apart from using the event as the highlight of activities marking the 2018 Remembranc­e Day, the event packaged to further strengthen that ongoing cordial military relationsh­ips with the armed forces of the participat­ing countries.

Sponsored by the Presidency and hosted by the Nigerian Military High Command, the event is being staged in the country for the second time, with a record seven military polo teams expected.

Nigeria set a military polo milestone in January 2006 when she organized and hosted the first ever Internatio­nal Military Polo Tournament at the foremost Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Club in Kaduna.

India Army team won the epoch inaugural championsh­ip, while South Africa military team finished second. Nigerian Army team captained by Retired Colonel Dangiwa Umar won the third place medal.

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