60
hurlinghampolo.com
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM,
EVA JAKOVLEVSKAJA
X I F I P P O L O W O R L D C H A M P I O N S H I P , W O R L D W I D E , J A N U A R Y – J U N E 2 0 1 7
A C T I O N
F I P Q U A L I F I E R S
With four out of five qualifying matches played, the standard has been set for
a fast and exciting Polo World Championship, says Carolina Beresford
The international polo world came together
once again in preparation for this year’s XI
FIP Polo World Championship. Qualification
matches took place all over, from France to
Thailand, Argentina to the USA. The top
teams have shown their strength and are
ready to travel to Australia in October, in the
hopes of claiming the coveted championship.
Current title-holders Chile qualified for the
tournament directly after their narrow 12-11
OT win over USA in the 2015 Polo World Cup
in Santiago, while hosts Australia also
received a golden ticket. Only six spots left
– so who rose to the challenge?
The South American qualifiers were up
first. Argentina gave a great performance
in their Zone B playoffs at Uruguay’s Punta
del Este Polo Club in late January. They
claimed their place in the championship
after beating Brazil, Peru and Uruguay in
style. The Argentines boasted experience
and skill and cruised through the playoffs
undefeated, playing attractive, open polo.
Their 2015 performance was underwhelming,
to say the least, but this Argentine squad
showed they mean business.
The final of the Asia-Pacific playoffs saw
New Zealand and Malaysia go head to head
at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Centre in early
February. The match brought up memories
of a previous Zone D final, in 2011, where
Malaysia beat New Zealand. This time, the
Kiwis were ready; they defeated their
opponents 9–5½ in a competitive match
to earn a spot in the final stage of the Polo
World Championship.
Zone A saw a three-team round-robin
between USA, Mexico and Guatemala. The
Americans were not going to leave anything
to chance this time; after a disappointing
2015 loss in Chile, Team USA put together
a formidable nine-man team and took to
training, travelling to Australia in April
to sharpen their skills. With Canada pulling
out last minute, USA only had two teams
standing between them and the final round
of the World Cup. USA faced Guatemala first
at Port Mayaca Polo Club in Okeechobee,
Florida; they dominated the match and
claimed a crucial 10–6½ win. The Zone A
playoff final therefore pitted USA against
