DS, BN/Newage triumph in National Open Polo Championship

Polo players in action at the Lahore Garrison Polo Grounds. — Facebook@LahoreGarrisonPoloGrounds/File

LAHORE: DS Polo and BN/Newage Cables registered impressive victories in the Bank Alfalah 62nd National Open Polo Championship for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2025 at the Lahore Polo Club on Thursday.

The prestigious tournament, supported by Bank Alfalah, continued to draw significant crowds including Lahore Polo Club President Malik Azam Hayat Noon, Executive Committee members, Secretary Lt. Col. Umar Amir (Retd.), and numerous families.

In the day’s opening encounter, DS Polo defeated HN Polo 8-6 in a contest marked by momentum swings. Max Charlton and Lao Abelenda spearheaded DS Polo’s offense with four goals apiece, while Pelayo Berazadi (four goals) and Hamza Mawaz Khan (two goals) led the scoring for HN Polo.

DS Polo established early control with a commanding 4-1 lead after the second chukker, scoring two goals in each of the opening periods while limiting HN to a single response. The third chukker saw a dramatic shift as HN Polo mounted a spectacular comeback with three unanswered goals to level the match at 4-4.

However, DS Polo reclaimed momentum in decisive fashion during the fourth chukker, netting three spectacular goals to surge ahead 7-4. Despite HN’s valiant effort with two goals in the final chukker, DS Polo added another to secure their 8-6 victory.

The second match featured BN/Newage Cables overcoming Olympia/AZB 10-6, with Hamza Mawaz Khan substituting for the injured Solari. Santiago Cernadas dominated the scoring with six goals for BN/Newage, complemented by Hamza Mawaz Khan’s hat-trick and Babar Naseem’s single contribution. Luis Manuel Aguirre (three goals), Abdul Rehman Munno (two goals), and Ahmed Zubair Butt (one goal) accounted for Olympia/AZB’s scoring.

Olympia/AZB began strongly with two early goals, but BN/Newage responded quickly with one goal in the first chukker before unleashing three in the second to edge ahead 4-3. After both teams exchanged goals in the third chukker for a 5-4 scoreline, BN/Newage delivered a decisive performance in the fourth with five spectacular goals while conceding just one to establish a commanding 10-5 advantage.

Olympia/AZB managed a consolation goal in the final chukker, but BN/Newage’s dominant middle-game performance secured their convincing 10-6 triumph. The championship continues on Saturday with more exciting matches scheduled as teams compete for the coveted Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup.