Imran Moiz (left) and Windhorse Gold’s Dr Azfar Mustapha in action. — Courtesy photos
POLO may be fast-paced and adrenaline-filled, but it’s the community and camaraderie that truly make it special.
This was the atmosphere at the inaugural Kuala Lumpur Polo Club (KLPC) National Tournament and Fiesta in Ampang Hilir, Kuala Lumpur, where the thrill of the game was matched by the spirit of togetherness.
There was intense competition among eight teams over a span of three days, with amateurs going head-to-head in the low-goal competition and professionals duking it out in the high-goal event.
The low-goal tournaments provided a platform for amateurs, including recent graduates from the Kuala Lumpur Academy of Polo (KLAP), to showcase their skills, while the high-goal tournament showcased international playing standards.
Horse jumping is one of the events featured in the inaugural tournament.
The Polo Fiesta 2024 featured international and national players, with Windhorse Gold, Jogo Polo and La Familia Sarita competing in the High-Goal Division, while the Royal Malaysia Police, La Familia, KLAP, KLPC, Tyrants Polo and Corsa/Indrapura competed in the Low-Goal Division.
The event was not just a celebration of polo, but other related equestrian sports as well, including show-jumping, dressage and gymkhana events.
Organising committee chairman Datuk Mohamed Moiz Ali Moiz, 64, who is also KLPC’s polo captain and former president, said the fiesta was about sharing their passion for all things equestrian with participants and spectators from all walks of life.
“We want to have events where the public can experience what we have to offer,” he said.
“It’s not always about being on the horse, but also engaging with the community and schools and getting them involved.
“I want to include younger people to send a message that there is something else available for them to do here, because polo is more than just about winning or losing, it’s also about character building.”
Mohamed Moiz said for future editions, the club wants to turn the fiesta into an international event lasting up to 10 days and will look at cooperating with the education as well as the youth and sports ministries or other government bodies.
“We are also in talks with the Equestrian Association of Malaysia to make this a national horse show event as well, so when people visit, it will be like a one-stop centre.
“Our goal is to hold four or five events each year to allow the community to experience the club’s offerings while expanding the equestrian community.
“Our club is one of the few places in the world where a polo club is in the centre of the city, and there is a lot of legacy here.
“While the Royal Houses of Johor and Pahang remain the bulwark of polo in this country, we as a members’ club play our role too with the academy, having produced over 100 players and 30% to 40% of SEA Games polo athletes over the years,” said Mohamed Moiz.
This year’s fiesta was supported by the Youth and Sports Ministry and saw participation from Riding for the Disabled Association Malaysia, which demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of horseback riding for people with disabilities.
La Familia Sarita won the High-Goal Division after defeating Gold Windhorse 7-2 in the final, while La Familia downed Tyrants 6-3 to win the Low-Goal Division title.
Mohamed Moiz, who is also captain of La Familia Sarita said the 7-2 scoreline did not reflect how evenly matched both teams were in the final.
“The other team (Gold Windhorse) tried a few times, but the ball didn’t go in. We were lucky with the penalties that went in. Both teams were very competitive and the game was played in good spirit,” he said.
La Familia player Datin Nurul Husna Noorajala Moiz said the tournament proved to be a valuable learning experience for amateur players.
“This tournament allows amateurs like us to dig deep and excel in positioning and marking.
“The professionals were limited in what they could do. They weren’t allowed to score within the 60-yard mark and could not hook amateurs, which gave us more chances but also pressure to do well.”
