The II Federation of International Polo (FIP) Arena World Polo Championship is due top start on Sunday October 6, and will be played in the United States for the first time. The event is co hosted by Roseland Polo Club, set in Crozet, Virginia, and Virginia Polo Inc., University of Virginia Polo Club in Charlottesville, Virginia, and will see six countries up to 12 goals (arena polo handicap), partake. Teams will be split in two leagues
France, Argentina, Pakistan, United States, Guatemala and Italy are the six lineups who will battle for the title. It’s worth remembering that arena polo teams are made of three players each.
The first ever FIP Arena World Polo Championship took place in 2023, in Argentina, hosted by La Carona Polo Club, and was rated between 10-12 goals. The format of this second edition will see teams playing two league games each, within their league; those teams ranked first and second in both leagues will get through to the semifinals. In case of tied records, these will be broken first by net goals, then by gross goals. All teams must play at least three matches, four chukkas. In the event of a tie, the contest will be decided on extra chukka and if the tie persists, a penalty shootout will take place to determine the winner. Also, and with regards to the weather, the event will be open air, otherwise, in case of rain, the games will be moved to the indoor arena at Virginia Polo Inc.
The semifinals will be played as follows:
First League A vs. Second League B
First League B vs. Second League A
The winners of both games will advance to the championship match, and the runners-up will cash for the third place; there will be a match for the fourth place, as well.
The opening day will feature two games:
2pm: France vs. Argentina4,30pm: USA vs. Guatemala
The finals will take place on Sunday October 12.
II FIP ARENA WORLD POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAMS
LEAGUE A
France: Edouard Baradello 3, Dorian Bulteau 4, Louis Jarrigue 5. Total: 12.
Argentina: Damián Oscar Mondaca 1, Francisco Crotto 5, Andrés Lariguet 5. Total: 11.
Coach: Gonzalo Azumendi
Pakistan: Ibrahim Khalil 3, Muhammad Saqib Khakwani 4, Hamza Mawaz 5. Total: 12.
Coach: Shaukat Ali Malik
LEAGUE B
United States: Kareem Rosser 3, Jared Sheldon 5, Patrick Uretz 4. Total: 12.
Coach: Billy Sheldon
Guatemala: José Ignacio Beltranena 3, Sebastián Aycinena 4, José Miguel Aguilar 3. Total: 10.
Alternative/Coach: Antonio Aycinena 3.
Italy: Stefano Giansanti 3, Giordano Magini 4, Mariano Raigal 5. Total: 12.
Coach: Franco Piazza
II FIP ARENA WORLD POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – FIXTURE
Sunday October 5 (Virginia Polo Inc)2pm: France vs. Argentina4,30om: USA vs. Guatemala
Tuesday October 7 (Roseland Polo Club)2pm: LG1 vs. Pakistan4,30pm: LG1 vs. Italy
Wednesday October 8 (Roseland Polo Club)2pm: WG1 vs. Pakistan4,30pm: WG2 vs. Italy
Friday October 10 (Consolation final, (Roseland Polo Club)11am: TBA vs. TBA
SEMIFINALS – FRIDAY OCTOBER 10 (Virginia Polo Inc)5,30pm: TBA vs. TBA7,30pm: TBA vs. TBA
FINALS – SUNDAY OCTOBER 12 (Roseland Polo Club)1pm: TBA vs. TBAepm: TBA vs. TBA
Source: PoloHUB Read More