LAHORE – Remounts and Olympia won the opening day matches of The Hamdan Aibak Polo Cup 2022 here at the Lahore Polo Club ground on Tuesday.
The first match of the day saw Simon Prado firing in fabulous five goals in Remounts’ 8-5½ win over DS Polo/Rizvi’s. Besides Simon’s heroics, Nico Roberts, Mumtaz Abbas Niazi and Imran Shahid also played key role in their team’s triumph thrashing in one goal each. From DS Polo/Rizvi’s, which had two and a half goal handicap advantage, Hissam Ali Hyder, Omer Asjad Malhi and Syed Muhammad Aun Rizvi scored one goal apiece.
Remounts were off to a flying start as they thrashed in two beautiful goals against one by DS Polo/Rizvi’s to gain a slight 2-1 lead in the first chukker. The second chukker was evenly poised, where both the sides struck one goal each with Remounts having 3-2 lead. Remounts dominated the third chukker fully, firing in four goals to have an unassailable 7-2 lead. Both the teams added one more goal each in their tally in the fourth and last chukker, with Remounts emerging as winners.
Phenomenal Abdul Rehman Monnoo’s hat-trick helped Olympia outsmart Diamond Paints by 6-4 in the second match of the day. Other key contributions from the winning side came from Ahmed Zubair Butt and Raja Sami Ullah, who slammed in two and one goal respectively. From Diamond Paints, Saqib Khan Khakwani banged in a brace while Ahmed Ali Tiwana and Mir Huzaifa Ahmed hit one goal apiece.
Both the teams started the match well and matched fire-with-fire till the end of the third chukker, which ended with both the teams locking horns at 4-4. At this crucial time, Olympia started the fourth and decisive chukker in great style, dominated it fully and thrashed in two goals to win the match by 6-4.
Both the enthralling matches were witnessed and enjoyed by Lahore Polo Club President Umer Sadik, Secretary General Agha Murtaza Ali Khan, executive committee members, polo players, their families and polo lovers. On Wednesday, DS Polo/Rizvi’s will take on Barry’s at 1:00 pm while Diamond Paints will vie against FG Polo at 2:00 pm.