Raja Samiullah led Guard Group to a thrilling win in the final to clinch the Spring Polo Cup here at the LPC’s main Aabik ground on Sunday
Guard Group and Pessi remained locked four-all by the fourth chukker and Raja in an unusual move earned his team a spot penalty in the fifth chukker that proved a final nail which got his team to the title. Newage got to the third position after it beat Karachi Polo Team in the subsidiary final.
Later, chief guest Shehzad Ali Malik, Ex President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, gave the winner’s trophy to the winner team. Federal minister Hina Rabbani Kher along with her children was also present in the polo lunge to have some light moments away from the hustle of daily life. Raja started the match with a 60-yarder but Saqib Khan Khakwani with his under the neck shot leveled the score. Maj Omer Minhas and Taimur Ali Malik provided two goals lead to Guards and in that too Raja was the leading move-maker.
Though Pessi got its second goal in the third quarter through Ahmed Ali Tiwana but Hamza Ijaz maintained the lead for Guard Group. Saqib Khan with his two back to back goals – one under the neck and the other a long lofted shot – brought the teams at even keel. And Raja scored the golden goal for Guard Group to get the trophy. In the subsidiary final, Newage beat KPT by six goals to four and a half. Shah Shamyl Alam was the star of the win with four goals. Col Asif Zahoor did well from the losing side. The matches were supervised by Sameer Habib, Omar Asjad Malhi, Saqib Khan and Shaukat Ali Malik.
