Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2012 – Day 1
Asia’s first ever Snow Polo World Cup got underway today at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club (“Metropolitan Polo Clubâ€). The “Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2012†(“Snow Polo World Cupâ€) is one of the world’s largest snow polo tournaments, and the first to take place in China. The Tournament is hosted by the Equestrian Association of China and the Federation of International Polo (FIP), and is organized by the Tianjin Sports Bureau, the Hong Kong Polo Development and Promotion Federation (HKPDPF) and the Tianjin Polo Association.
There are altogether twelve teams taking part in this year’s tournament and each team’s handicap ranges from 14-16, making this international high-goal tournament one of the largest in the world. The teams are from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, England, France, Hong Kong SAR, India, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. All are members of the Federation of International Polo (FIP).
The snow polo arena of the Snow Polo World Cup measures 192m long and 68.5m wide (210 yards long, 75 yards wide). The compacted snow in the arena is 25cm deep, with a total volume of 4,000 cubic metres. The game is contested by three players on each side. The players use an inflatable orange ball, slightly larger than the one traditionally used on grass, and more visible in the snow. Finally, there are three chukkas in each game, and each chukka runs for 6 minutes.
Final Scores on the First Day of Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2012
The first game of the Tournament was between Hong Kong and India. Both teams gave a spirited performance, with Hong Kong emerging victorious with a final score of Hong Kong 4: India 2.
The second game was between the evenly matched USA and Argentina. After a thrilling 3 chukkas both teams were on 4 goals each and the game went to a penalty shoot-out. Argentina sealed a victory over the USA, with 8 penalties to 7.
The final game of the first day was between England and South Africa. In the first half of the second chukka, South Africa led by 4 goals, England changed their tactics to close to a one-goal margin and by the end of the third chukka, ended with a 7:6 victory.
Competing teams on February 3 are Brazil vs France, Italy vs Australia, Chile vs New Zealand.
In addition to the thrilling action on the field, the Snow Polo World Cup also features a Nordic Wonderland, showcasing winter amusements such as ice sculptures featuring various architectural delights, a snow park for sledging, and a wooden horse where visitors can try polo for themselves. The Nordic Wonderland guarantees an unforgettable experience for spectators of all ages. Families and children can enjoy a wealth of dining experiences and musical entertainment in the winter playground. There is also a winter shopping village and a car show alongside the venue.