The Pakistan polo team crashed to a much disciplined Indian polo team by 9-12 in the final of the FIP World Cup Polo Zone D on Saturday. Pakistan must be ruing the missed chances for their loss to India which not only halted their win run but made history with the loss. Pakistan failed to provide the resistance they were expected to give at the Asian-Australasian-African Championships final at the Royal Selangor Polo Club Malaysia, despite having two goals advantage. There was more joy for India when Samir Suhag (Handicap 5) was voted the most valuable player. Samir was again in a top form in the final, scoring seven goals to take his personal tally to 23 goals in the tournament. India’s other goals came through Simran Shergill (Handicap 4) who scored a hat-trick and one each by Vishal Chauhan (2) and Tarun Sirohi (3).
Pakistan’s newcomer Temur Nadeem (2) was his team’s top scorer with five goals followed by Ahmed Tiwana (3) with two. Both teams took the field with an unbeaten record. Pakistan, however, started the match with a two goal advantage due to their 12 goal team against India’s 14 goal team. Things did look bad for India when Pakistan scored twice in the early minutes of the first chukka through Temur and Ahmed to take a 4-0 lead before India pulled one back through Samir Suhag. It was the goal India needed to get charged and they did it in style in the second chukka to draw level at 4-4. India took off from there as they grew in confidence while Pakistan wilted. The champions moved confidently ahead to 6-4 in the third chukka and 10-7 by the fifth chukka. Pakistan staged a brief fight back at this stage and narrowed the gap to 10-9. But that was all that Pakistan could do against the Indian who were not ready to give go back as second best. The final whistle left Pakistan players in tears while India celebrated. Pakistan manager Abdul Qadir Mamdot said: “We had the chances but failed to make it count. India deserves to win. They were the better side.” “This win is history for us. We came here with a mission and we did it in style. As I said this is the best polo team from India in 20 years. This team has a bright future. Indian polo has come of age and we will be heading to Argentina (for FIP Polo World Cup Finals) in October with confidence,” said India team manager Vikram Singh Rathore.
“India had never won an international polo tournament. We look towards this win as our stepping stone for better things to come in future international tournaments. Winning here against a world class line-up means Indian polo has a bright future,” he added. Meanwhile, Australia joined Pakistan and India in this year’s FIP Polo World Cup Finals in San Luis, Argentina from October 11 to 25 after beating South Africa in the playoff for third and fourth placing. It was a heart break for South Africa as Australia staged a remarkable fight back, from 6-2 down after the second chukka to 8-8 in the fifth. In the sixth and final chukka, Australia pushed up a gear to run out 12-9 winners and qualify for their second world cup finals. Australia got their goals through by Matt Grimes scoring five goals, four by Alec White, two by Ed Gold and one by Zac Hagedoorn while South Africa scorers were Lance Watson seven goals and one each by Johann Du Preez and Campbell Macnab.
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