Hookahs raise RM100,000 for RDA Malaysia
The Hookahs managed to raise a cool RM100,000 for Riding for the Disabled Association of Malaysia. With all the hype surrounding this magnificent achievement, it was easy to disregard what a good polo tournament it was on the field.
The polo was blessed with fantastic weather. Only Wednesday was rain-hit, leading to some matches being continued the next morning.
Team Jaeger-LeCoultre took advantage of the rain delay to come storming back to beat WorleyParsons 9 -7½ after being behind early in the match. Jaeger-LeCoultre then defeated Goly Polo on Friday to claim a place in the Hookahs final.
Luiz Enriquez’s Goly Polo team was one of the pre-tournament favourites as the team had the services of professional 4-goaler Edham Shaharuddin. They came up short against Jaeger-LeCoultre in the semi-finals, but defeated Team NSS in the Jepamajosa Cup for third place.
WorleyParsons finally got a win over the oldest team in the tournament, Ikatan Asli, which sported an average age of 61. The old men of polo still made WorleyParsons work for their win going all the way to the final bell before conceding the Tempawan Trophy by just half a goal.
GAA score two victories to take the Misty Anne Cup in the plate final. His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah, the Crown Prince of Pahang played the final day and despite being sick earlier in the week showed why he is till rated off 2 goals. They beat Malaysian Horseshoes 6-4½ to earn their hookahs.
Team Heineken went all the way in the Hookahs Polo Tournament, winning all three of their games. Led by Indian professional Bhawani Singh Kalvi and backed on the final day by team captain Johan Indot, Heineken was too hot for Jaeger-LeCoultre to handle in the final.
Jagdeep Kairon and Hennie Conraad contributed with some hard riding as Heineken thwarted the twin threats of Ameer Jumabhoy and Yeo Kuo Lee in Jaeger-LeC oultre’s attack. Asad Jumabhoy was rock solid in defence for Jaeger-LeCoultre. Dato’ Mohamed Moiz had another sterling Hookahs series, cleverly managing his team and playing smart polo all the way through the tournament.
The final was a close game till half-time as the lead traded hands. Heineken seemed to have the edge though and in the third chukka they opened up a three goal lead. JLC came back in the final chukka but it was too late as Heineken celebrated a famous win.
Bhawani took the honour of Most Valuable Player in the Hookahs Polo Tournament, joining an elite group that includes Shariman Sarir, Edham Shaharuddin and Shaik Reismann. Satinder Garcha’s Colorada was voted Best Playing Pony of the tournament. The 7 year old Argentinean mare was played by Bhawani.
In the B Division, Hamidullah Khan’s The Apartment Downtown team easily defeated Clear by 11-4 in the six chukka match that was spread over 4 days. Playing in his first ever polo tournament, David Epworth was voted Most Valuable Player of the division. The former A grade polocrosse player and four time Tom Quilty finisher took the honours despite playing real polo less than a dozen times in his life.
True to form, the Hookahs finished with a big bang as they lit up the skies with a magnificent fireworks display. Coupled with champagne, it made for the perfect end to six days of polo and partying for a great cause.
