As the whole of the UAE proudly joined hands to celebrate its 48th National Day, Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club joined in the countrywide festivities by hosting a fun day of entertainment, with the highlight being an exhibition polo match.
The match was played in the true spirit of sportsmanship between Ghantoot A and Ghantoot B and kept the large crowd of polo enthusiasts and visitors to the state-of-the-polo club in Abu Dhabi totally entertained.
The game, which was played over four chukkers, fittingly ended in a 3-3 draw, with Ghantoot A’s Argentine pro Manuel Toccalino and Ghantoot B’s Abdullah Bin Desmal each scoring twice.
“Sport relies on the spirit of sportsmanship,” said Bin Desmal. “Exhibition matches like these are all about fair play. Given the fact that it was the country’s National Day it was important to portray good sportsmanship which is the responsibility of every athlete.
“I think we all enjoyed the game. It’s still early in the season and most of the players are still getting into the groove. We’ve got a long way to go and look forward to some exciting times during the rest of the season.
“Congratulations to the UAE, it’s people, its Leaders. Each one of us is proud to be Emirati and we believe that the best is yet to come in this great country.”
Alongside the polo game, Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club conducted several entertaining shows for the public with prizes and gifts to be won by one and all.
HE Zayed Alaboudi Al Zaabi, the club’s Managing Director, congratulated the UAE on the occasion of its 48th Anniversary, saying: “It is our duty here at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club to join with the UAE community on such a historic day and to celebrate the future, which looks brighter and brighter.
“I would like to congratulate the staff at our club for their efforts to ensure that the 48th National Day would be very special.
Al Zaabi has also thanked HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for all the support he has given the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club for the past three decades.
“Equestrian sports are an important tradition of the Emirati people and we at Ghantoot will continue to work hard to maintain a very high standard of organization skills as we head into 2020, which is a very significant year for the country with the Dubai Expo.
The historic Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club was founded in1994 by His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and its uplifting tradition continues under the passionate patronage of the former UAE President’s son, HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Ghantoot is the UAE’s only Royal Polo Club and is widely regarded as one of the finest polo playing facilities in the country and Middle East region.
Every year, during National Day celebrations, the state-of-the-art polo venue puts on a special show to help showcase the country’s rapid and ambitious evolution into the cultural and sporting capital of the Middle East, where equestrian sports play a key role.
At A Glance
What: UAE National Day and Polo Exhibition Game
When: Nov 29, 2019
Where: Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club
Teams: Ghantoot A vs Ghantoot B
Results: 3-3 draw
Contact Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club
Telephone: +971 (50) 2333915
EMAIL: marketing@grpc.ae Nesrine Bengra
FOR MORE INFO: www.grpc.ae
Official website: www.grpc.ae
Official social media : www.instagram.com/ghantootpolo
