Not every big polo weekend happens in Palm Beach or Windsor. On Saturday 21 January 2012 the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club, near Horseshoe Point in Thailand, staged the finals day of the annual B.Grimm Polo tournament, and it produced one of the closest finishes of the young year. La Sarita, led by Asad Jumabhouy, beat defending champions Thai Polo by half a goal to lift the Princess Cup.
A charity event with a proper field
Nine teams took part, drawn from China, Malaysia, Singapore, Macau and the host nation. They played a round-robin over ten days before finals day. The tournament is also a fundraiser: proceeds go to a vocational school project supported by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and the total passed one million baht this year.
How the knockout stage unfolded
- Semi-final one: Thai Polo edged Royal Pahang of Malaysia 6-5.
- Semi-final two: La Sarita beat Troika 11-10, another one-goal decision.
- Third place play-off: Royal Pahang beat Troika 8-6, leaving Troika fourth.
The final
La Sarita won the Princess Cup 8.5 to 8, a half-goal margin of the kind that only handicap polo can produce, since a team rated lower on paper starts with a head start. Thai Polo cut a three-goal deficit in a dramatic fourth chukka, but a penalty that could have won them the match in the closing seconds was missed, and the trophy went to La Sarita instead.
It is a good reminder of how tight handicap polo can be. When two sides are rated closely and the scoreline is separated by half a goal, one missed penalty is the whole story. We always enjoy these matches more than the lopsided ones.
More than just the polo
The cup was presented by the Argentine ambassador, Ana Maria Ramirez, together with BMW Group Thailand president Matthias Pfalz. Among the guests were HRH Crown Prince Abdullah of Pahang, the German ambassador Rolf Schulze and the Saudi Arabian chargé d’affaires Nabil Hussein Ashri.
The day began with a children’s polo exhibition and a parade of new BMW models, the title sponsor’s contribution to the afternoon. Afterwards there was a cocktail party with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, finishing with fireworks. Avasada Pocmontri took the Best Hat prize and Apinya Sevatasai won Best Dress, a tradition we are always glad to see survive at polo days, whatever the continent.
For anyone following the growth of the game in Asia, this tournament shows a healthy circuit with a mix of regional teams, a real charitable purpose and plenty of competitive polo. Thailand may not be a first thought when polo is mentioned, but this event proves the sport has a loyal following there.
Sources: Pattaya Mail
