Bin Drai had a successful premiere in the Dubai Challenge Cup
22nd March 2017, DUBAI, UAE: Bin Drai Polo defeated Zedan by 8 goals to 6 in today´s debut at the Dubai Challenge Cup, the fourth tournament of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2017, held under the patronage of HH Sheik Maktoum Bin Mohammed.
Patron Saeed Bin Drai´s team played a great second half, with a great comeback in the fourth chukker, to defeat the Gold Cup champions in a very tough match.
In Bin Drai today´s line up, Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario replaced injured Francisco Elizalde.
After a 1 goal apiece first chukker, Zedan took the lead in the match and achieved a 3 goal difference at half time. But in the fourth chukker Bin Drai put their engines at full speed to, first tie the game (4-4), and then keep on going in the final period for a 8 goals to 6 triumph.
Raúl Laplacette in Bin Drai and Pablo Mac Donough (Zedan), with 4 goals each, were the top scorers of the match.
Match progression:
Bin Drai: 1-1/ 1-2/ 1-4/ 4-4/ 8-6
The Dubai Challenge Cup continues tomorrow at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club with Habtoor Polo playing against Wolves from 4 pm.
About The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series
Founded by Mohammed Al Habtoor in 2009. Since inception the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series has grown from strength to strength. Today, it is ranked among the best polo tournaments in the world. Now an 18 goal handicap competition, it is the highest handicapped event in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It was first recognized by the World Polo Tour (WPT) in 2012. Three years later the WPT upgraded the tournament from Challenge Cup to the highly coveted WPT Cup, providing winners with 80 points. In 2017 the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series moved to its new home ground - The Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, a state-of-the-art development devoted to equine sports.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Dubai Sports Council:
Dubai Sports Council is the official government body responsible for the development of the sport sector in the Emirate of Dubai. Under the Chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and its 14 Board Members; the Council supervises the work of nine local clubs in Dubai, six of which practice a variety of individual and or team sports, such as football, handball and archery; in addition to the chess club and a club devoted for those with special needs.
Since its inception in 2006, with the vision of creating a unique sporting community, the Council organizes various annual major Sports Championships and Conferences, in cooperation with multiple International/National sports bodies and Dubai Government Entities, such as the Dubai International Sports Conference, Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup and the FINA Diving World Series; in an attempt to enhance the culture, knowledge and expertise of professionalism in all aspects of the field; from the overall preparation and/or execution of the event.
Dubai became the first Arab and Middle East city to host the Sport Accord International Convention in 2010, and stages the annual Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, the most prestigious Award of the Middle East Region. Though the Council works on various major international sports events, it does not overlook the importance of spreading the awareness of a healthier, more active lifestyle locally; and in order to achieve such objectives, physical activity programs and initiatives, such as the Dubai Pulse Physical Activity program, the Furjan District Championships and the Dubai Beach Soccer League, have all been designed to target the various communities within the Emirate.
Cristina Gusita
Polo Coordinator General
Dubai Polo Gold Cup
E-mail: [email protected]
