The Barclays Japan Cup 2014 (30 &31 August)
Celebrating its fourth year in Singapore with traditional Japanese performances
After a successful introduction to the Singapore polo and high society social calendars in 2011, the Barclays Japan Cup has gone from strength to strength and celebrates its fourth year with a traditional drum and mounted archery performance.
For the second year in a row, an all-Japanese polo team takes to the field, sponsored by Pocari Sweat. Team patron is Taro Otsuka, who has played in all previous tournaments and is supported like last year by team captain Hiro Suzuki, and the father and daughter combination of Hiro and Akiko Kume. The Pocari Sweat team will face off against the Barclays team made up of Singapore Polo Club members.
On Saturday 30 August and Sunday 31 August, mounted archers will enthrall guests with a traditional yabusame performance. Yabusame is traditional Japanese mounted archery dating back well over a thousand years. A yabusame archer will gallop down the sandtrack, controlling the horse with his knees, draw and shoot his bow twice at targets placed inside the field. Yabusame, in more modern times, is practiced more as a ritual than a sport and is performed in Japan at special eventsLive. The yabusame archers this year are from Japan and Australia.
In 2013, approximately 800 spectators watched the preliminary polo matches and yabusame performance on Saturday and the finals on Sunday. For 2014, four teams sponsored by Barclays, Pocari Sweat, LEXUS and Royal Salute will vie for the coveted title.
The Singapore Polo Club invites all interested members of the public to come and join us at the Club on either Saturday or Sunday from 4.30pm until 6.30pm. Access to fieldside seating and standing room is free of charge. Parking space is available, but limited and visitors are encouraged to take public transport.
The Sunday finals and traditional performances will be recorded for broadcast on Fox Sports/ Star Sports in Asia, Horse & Country TV in the UK and Benelux, and NowSports in Hong Kong. Other media covering the event are Livingpolo.com and Polo+10.
Also supported by the Japanese Association in Singapore, this event will welcome dignitaries, celebrities and business leaders for a weekend of sport and glamour. In addition to high-level socialising and networking over Royal Salute whisky, Stella Artois beer and Japanese and Western canapés, guests will have the opportunity to have their pictures taken with a polo pony.
Directions to the Singapore Polo Club:
80 Mount Pleasant Road, Singapore 298334. Main Line: +65 6854 3977