The final of the last and most important tournament of the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, the EMAAR Cup, was played on Sunday February 15, in the club set in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The competition saw ten teams up to 12 goals, and the unbeaten Bin Drai clashed with Jehangiri in the decisive game.
Jehangiri received 0.5 goal on handicap, but Bin Drai delivered their best polo, and overwhelmed their contenders to reach a commanding 5-1.5 by the end of the second chukka. However, Jehangiri bounced back in the second half in an attempt to get close to the score; the last minutes of play were definetly nailbiting – the gap was just half a goal. But at the end of the day, iit was Bin Drai who managed to hold Jehangiri back, and claimed the EMAAR Cup after a tight 7-6.5 win.
EMAAR CUP – FINAL – SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15
BIN DRAI 7-6.5 JEHANGIRI
Bin Drai: Manuel López Altuna 2, Facundo Kelly 4, Ciro Urturi 3, Baltazar Jauretche 2. Total: 11.
Jehangiri: Saad Jehangiri -1, Juan Cruz Guevara 4, Dante Castagnola 3, Hissam Hyder 4. Total: 10.
Score Bin Drai: 1-1.5, 5-1.5, 6-4.5, 7-6.5.
Umpires: Matías Baibiene & Chris Hyde.
Third man: Santiago Torreguitar.
MVP: Facundo Kelly.
BPP: Open Souza, rideen Hissam Hyder
Best Argentine Polo Pony Bred, presented by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn.: Clarice, ridden by Facundo Kelly
RELIVE THE FINAL OF THE EMAAR CUP ON POLOLINE TV HERE
Cover photo by Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club.