KUALA LUMPUR: The national polo team opens its 30th SEA Games campaign with a right, after defeating Indonesia by a score of 7.5 in the opening match at the Inigo Zobel Polo Field in Manila, Philippines, yesterday.
The defending national team started slowly when they lost 2 times 5.5 in the first chukka, before settling on to win the second chukka through the strong pairing of Tengku Ahmad Shazril Ezzani Tengku Suleiman and Amran Safe.
The national polo squad manager, Mohamad Zekri Ibrahim, who was contacted by Bernama, was happy with the victory, but expected a real challenge against the host country, at the same venue tomorrow, as the Philippines and Brunei brought their own horses instead of the country’s team on loan.
Zekri, who is also vice president of the Royal Malaysian Polo Association, however, was optimistic that the experience of Tengku Ahmad Shazril and Amran and other teammates could help the national team secure a second victory over the Philippines.ADVERTISING
Earlier, Brunei beat the Philippines with 8.5 points to 8 in another match at the same venue.