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LUXURY SPORTS<br />
DESERT PALM, buoyed by the red-hot form of highly regarded Argentine<br />
veteran Bartoleme ‘Lolo’ Castagnola, overwhelmed UAE by 10 goals<br />
to 8 to win the prestigious HH President of the UAE Polo Cup presented<br />
by Premier Motors Maserati at Racing & Polo Club on Friday, March 29.<br />
Bartoleme, a former 10-goal player who currently has a 6-goal handicap,<br />
blasted home seven times in a dominating display of high-class polo,<br />
befitting his former high handicap.<br />
He was well supported by his brother, Camilo Castagnola, who scored<br />
twice and Refino Bensadon, both 5-goal players.<br />
For the UAE, the exciting Tomy Panelo (4-goal) sent home five goals with<br />
fellow-Argentinian Alejendro Muzzio accounting for the other two.<br />
HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is<br />
the patron of UAE, stood like a rock in the defence and when the opportunity<br />
came, took the fight to the rivals.<br />
Overall it was a well contested match, befitting such a prestigious tournament,<br />
which featured six teams. However, Desert Palm seemed to perform<br />
better of the two squads on the day and led from the second chukker<br />
onwards.<br />
UAE were bidding for a third trophy of the season having earlier won the<br />
Emirates Open Polo Cup and the Silver Cup earlier this year.<br />
The HH President of the UAE Cup was organised by Ghantoot Racing<br />
& Polo Club under the patronage of its founder, HH Sheikh Falah bin<br />
Zayed Al Nahyan and presented by Premier Motors Maserati.<br />
Abu Dhabi Sports Council were the Governing Partner. The event was<br />
held in association with Emirates Polo Association and presented by Premier<br />
Motors Maserati.<br />
Rashid Al Bawardi, the patron of Desert Palm, commented after the<br />
match: “First of all, I want to thank Ghantoot for organising such a<br />
great tournament. It was a great atmosphere and a great crowd who were<br />
with us all the way to the end.<br />
“UAE are one of the best team’s in the country for a reason, and they<br />
showed it today with their strong performance.<br />
“I also want to thank my team for the consistency they have showed all<br />
through the tournament. We only lost one game, so that was good. We<br />
look forward to playing more exciting and competitive matches and good<br />
luck to all teams for the future.”<br />
Ghantoot Polo Team claimed a consolation win when they defeated Abu<br />
Dhabi Polo Team in the Sub-Final. The hosts won by nine goals to eight.<br />
RESULTS<br />
Friday, March 29<br />
Final: Desert Palm Polo Team beat UAE Palm Polo Team 10-7<br />
Sub-Final: Ghantoot Polo Team beat Abu Dhabi Polo Team 9-8<br />
OFFICIAL SPONSORS<br />
• Governing Partner Abu Dhabi Sports Council<br />
• In association with Emirates Open Association<br />
• Presented by Premier Motors Maserati<br />
• Sobha Realty<br />
• Golden Tulip Al Jazeera<br />
• Beverly Hills Polo Club<br />
• Ahmed Al Maghribi<br />
• Noor Al Wasl Clinic<br />
• Beverly Hills Medical Center One Day Surgery<br />
• Premier Events Management<br />
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