15 foreign female players participate as Polo in Pink Tournament rolls into action

The Lahore Smart City Polo in Pink Polo Tournament 2023 officially commenced under the auspices of the Lahore Polo Club Tuesday, marking a historic occasion for both women's participation and awareness of breast cancer. 

The announcement was made by the President of the Lahore Polo Club (LPC), Azam Hayat Noon, and was attended by key figures including Imran Zahid, Chief Operating Officer of Lahore Smart City, Zahid Arif, Chief Financial Officer, and Umar Aftab, CEO of Pink Ribbon Pakistan, among others. The event was graced by the presence of LPC's executive committee members, senior members, and women players from across the globe.

Azam Hayat Noon emphasized the landmark nature of this tournament, highlighting the presence of 15 women players in a first-of-its-kind four-goal competition with 15 teams. He underscored the Lahore Polo Club's status as Pakistan's oldest and most esteemed polo club, consistently delivering top-quality matches for polo enthusiasts worldwide.

Noon also noted that 15 female players, hailing from countries like America, England, Australia, Holland, and Iran, have converged on Lahore for this significant event, aimed at raising breast cancer awareness under the banner of Pink Ribbon Pakistan. Two Pakistani female players are also participating in this international gathering.

The tournament's unique feature includes the inclusion of one female player in each team. The 15 teams are divided into two groups: Group A with seven teams and Group B with eight teams. The tournament will culminate in a grand final on Sunday, October 29, following a week of thrilling competitions.

Imran Zahid, Chief Operating Officer of Lahore Smart City, highlighted the company's long-standing connection with polo, emphasizing their support for this regal sport and their commitment to spreading awareness about breast cancer through this annual tournament. He pledged to continue endorsing positive activities in the future.

Umar Aftab, CEO of Pink Ribbon Pakistan, expressed gratitude to the Lahore Polo Club, Lahore Smart City, and women from around the world for their support in raising awareness for breast cancer. He acknowledged the vital work done by Pink Ribbon Hospital in combating this disease.

The participating teams are divided into two pools, with Pool A featuring Lahore Smart City, The Noorpur Bandobast, ZS, Master Paints, FG Polo Team, Remington Pharma, and Diamond Paints. Pool B consists of Pebble Breaker, DS Polo/Sheikhoo, Black Horse Paints, Newage Cables, Platinum Homes, Barry’s, Guard Group, and Rijas Polo. 

Among the female players are Sally Cates, Charlotte Amy, Natasha Monica, Isabelle Victoria, Chloe Victoria Horswell, Scarlett Natasha, and Dominique Tinis from England; Sayeda Aafia, Hadithi Soltani, and Sahir Yaqoubi from Iran; Eesha Haye and Sofia Dean Ali Khan from Pakistan; William Meanley from Holland; Philippa Henry from Australia; and Romina Sinclair from America.

The women players expressed their honor to participate in the Lahore Polo Club and commended the tournament's positive cause. They praised Lahore's beauty, hospitality, and eagerly anticipated a competitive and enjoyable week of polo.

Meanwhile, four matches were also played here at the Lahore Polo Club grounds. In the first match of the day, Master Paints edged out ZS team by a narrow margin of 7-6. In the second match of the day, Newage Cables outpaced Master Paints Black by 8-3½. Then Rijas Polo outsmarted Guard Group by 5-3 and Platinum Homes overwhelmed Barry’s by 12½-5.