Gorging on fruit
Elephants are treated to a generous fruit ‘buffet’ before they set out on the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in which King Power beat the Benihana team 13-6 at Anantara Hotels & Resorts in Bangkok yesterday. The tournament, now in its 15th year, is one of the biggest charitable events in Southeast Asia.
The 2017 King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament kicked off yesterday on the banks of Bangkok’s mighty Chaophraya River.
The opening day offered a spectacle of seasoned elephant polo players, a traditional Thai parade, Thailand’s last elephant spirit men and the stars of the event — 25 rescued street elephants.
The proceedings began with a traditional ceremony blessed by monks who placed sacred garlands over the necks of the elephants. Thailand’s last elephant spirit men — Kru Ba Yai — who possess spiritual control over all of Thailand’s elephants, also presided over the early morning rituals.
The opening match saw 2016 champions, King Power, represented by Nattapong Pratumlee, Satid Wongkraso and Tom Claytor continue their winning style, easily beating newcomers Benihana 13-6.
The match of the day was between PWC All Blacks, which include international rugby players Olo Brown, Stu Wilson and Charlie Richelman, and Casiliero Del Diablo, represented by Argentina’s finest polo players Agustin Kronhaus, Manuel Albizu and Franck Constant, with the first half closing in a nail-biting tie.
The tested All Blacks came into the second half all set to fight for a win against the newest editions to the Elephant Polo Cup line-up, but the team from Buenos Aires progressed to the next round with a 6-4 win.
The annual event is an opportunity for Anantara Hotels and Resorts to take 25 unemployed, rescued street elephants, provide them with full veterinary checks by royally appointed veterinarians and supply them with essential vitamin and dietary supplements. To date the tournament has raised over US$1.3 million (around 46 million baht) which has been donated to various projects throughout Thailand.
DAY ONE SCORES
King Power bt Benihana 13-6; Mekhong bt Anantara 14-7; Casiliero Del Diablo bt PWC All Blacks 6-4