Russian Women’s Polo Open 2012

Russian Women’s Polo Open 2012

A new historic landmark in Russian Polo took place on July 15, 2012 with the organization of the Russian Women’s Polo Abierto 2012–Russia’s first women’s polo tournament—at the Presidents Polo Club.

 

Two O goal polo teams composed entirely of nine Russian women polo players participated in the Russian Women’s Polo Abierto 2012. Anastasia Huaco, Yana Bandurko, Raya Sidorenko and Olga Grishina played for the Presidents Polo Club white team. Polina Nazarova, Anastasia Rodzianko, Sofia Dubrova, Tatiana Menshenina, Ania Menshenina played for the Presidents Polo Club black team. The black team prevailed over the white team over a four chukker match with a 6-3 final score.

 

Guests at the event enjoyed watching a polo match that unfolded much faster and exciting than what they expected. Although the final chukker was played under the rain, this was probably the best chukker of the afternoon. Polina Nazorava was awarded a prize for the best player of the event.

 

Many of the Russian guests, especially the women, commented on their surprise to see Russian women playing what they considered a man’s sport and their interest in giving polo a try. Indeed, polo has traditionally been a man’s sport. However, in the last 3-5 years women’s polo is growing fast globally and various polo tournaments around the world are now exclusively focused on women. The Russian Women’s Polo Abierto 2012 is certainly supporting this global trend and the Presidents Polo Club will make this an annual fixture of its polo calendar.

 

Anastasia Huaco, who first suggested the organization of this event stated: “After playing polo for the last eight years, finally I was able to gather nine Russian women polo players and organize this event. This was my first women’s polo tournament, and the fact that I played it in Russia, with other Russian women polo players, and in front of Russian guests, made it very special. I hope we can attract more Russian women to the game and more teams participate in the future in this annual event.”   

          

Jaguar Land Rover, a company that has actively supported Russian polo since 2003, was a partner of this unique event and is a partner of the Presidents Polo Club summer polo eventsLive. Studio Olga Chernikova was also again present with its Russian themed decorations and gifts.