International Tang Polo Invitational Championship
The polo outdoor season in Beijing kicked off in great style with the International Tang Polo Invitational Championship from 17th to 20th May. Teams and players from China, with both Beijing and Shanghai represented, Thailand, Argentina, Singapore, USA and Egypt took part.
A fun and friendly interclub tournament of VR Thailand v Tang Polo Club tool part as the curtain raiser before the main event and marked the first inter club tournament for the Tang Polo Club.
Shilai Liu the premier polo player in China and Chairman of the Tang Polo Club took sides with the visiting VR team as part of the welcome to China and the VR team ran out winners 7 : 5 after four very competitive chukka’s, played in good spirit.
The teams for the main competition were Tang Polo, King Power (from Thailand,) H.T. (from Beijing) and EL Paisano (from Singapore.) The preliminary matches were held on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th with both Tang Polo and King Power progressing through to the final.
On the subsidiary finals day about 500 guests gathered to witness the official opening ceremony. The chairman of Beijing Equestrian Association, Mr. Yao Ge and the Vice District Mayor of Beijing Tongzhou Dist. Mrs Li Yanlan delivered congratulation speeches.
The unique aspect of the weekend, was that before each of the main matches on the weekend there was a ladies tournament, between a team of Thai Ladies and the China Ladies. Three chukkas per day with the overall score counting. Overall the Thai ladies won through 6 : 3.
It was a real eye turner for the crowd with many ladies saying that they did not realize that women play polo. The Tang Polo Club are committed to and are the leader of the development of ladies polo in China. They are looking forward to many more ladies taking part in the future.
The subsidiary final was a close run affair, with neither side being able to gain any advantage. The final result of 6 : 6 showed how it was a to and fro match, one which the crowd enjoyed and appreciated.
The six goal final between Tang Polo and King Power was by all seasoned watchers the best polo match that had been seen for many a days in China. Five Chukka’s of real end to end play. One team would score and then the other team would come out and retaliate. The 500 plus crowd were enthralled, with Tang Polo narrowly beating King Power at 9 : 8. The scorers had a hard time keeping up with the action.
The other awards for the weekend were as follows:
– Male MVP: Top Raksriaksorn from King Power, he was the youngest player in this event, but his brilliant performance, belied his young age.
– Female MVP: Robin Lourvanij, from Thailand and representing the Thai Ladies.
– Best Horse: “Tang King”, who was born and trained at the Tang Club.