Tournament sponsors Polo D’Sufi came from behind to clinch Pakistan Polo Cup title here at the Lahore Polo Club ground on Sunday. The polo activity that resumed after a week’s rest day, Polo D’Sufi got past State Life-Olympia by seen goals to six after the winners lagged behind by 4-6 by the close of the third chukker. It was sheer team effort in which all the four riders of Polo D’Sufi showed a combined effort to prevail over the dominating State Life quartet. Ahmed Ali Tiwana, who was the dominating force behind State Life endeavour, picked four goals in all and to start with he banged in two back to back to lead his side. But the solo effort of Saqib Khan Khakwani brought Polo D’Sufi in contention.
Atif Ali Tiwana and Ahmed gave State Life another two goals in the second chukker while an under-the-neck hit from Sufi Mohammad Amir reduced the lead to 2-4 and it was still State Life in authority.
Their authoritative command of State Life remained intact till the start of the third chukker when Ahmed came up with his fourth and his team’s fifth goal. But the tide started to turn when former Pakistan captain Shah Qublai Alam started to show his command over the game and came up with two goals, and both were field efforts including a solo move. His class though reduced the margin for Polo D’Sufi but they were still one goal behind State Life 4-5.
Atif responded for State Life hitting the score 6-4 and his fellow riders tried their best to keep Polo D’Sufi at bay but Qublai, Saqib and Amir with the support of Sufi Mohammad Haris brought all the action into the game. They first leveled the score 6-all and then Amir tapped the ball home to leave State Life stunned. In the end, chief guest Jehangir Badar, General Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party, later presented the trophies to the winning team while Sufi Mohammad Amin, chief executive Master Paints and Sufi Groups were also present on the occasion.
Earlier in the day, Hilton Pharma beat Habib Bank Limited 5-3. Riding on the experience of Santiago Mendivil, Hilton Pharma secured the third place in the classification match. Mendivil scored four of the five goals that included two off the field and two penalty hits. Their fifth goals came from Ahmed Khan. Taimur Ali Malik scored two goals and Umair Shah got one in their vain struggle to win the subsidiary final. Agha Murtaza Ali Khan, Raul Laplacette and Santiago Mendivil managed the matches as umpires.
