Photos show His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar competing in the 33rd SEA Games Polo competition in Bangkok, Thailand. PHOTOS: INFOFOTO
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen competes at the 33rd SEA Games Polo competition at the VS Sports Club and Polo Siam Park, Samut Prakan in Bangkok, Thailand. PHOTO: INFOFOTO
Brunei Darussalam polo team secured a place in the final of the 2-4 Goals Event of 33rd SEA Games Polo competition after cruising to a 9-6 win against Malaysia polo team in the semifinal match at the VS Sports Club and Polo Siam Park, Samut Prakan in Bangkok, Thailand.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, SEA Games Federation Honorary Life President and President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council was present to witness the game and support the Brunei Polo team.
The Brunei polo team included His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar and Farid Abdullah.
Brunei’s polo team coach Guillermo Willington Arias commented about the win recalling that from the first throw in, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar won the throw and took the ball to score the first field goal 1-0.
However, Malaysia managed to score in a counter attack to level the score 1-1.
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen managed to take the ball for Brunei’s second field goal 2-1. Malaysia drove forward from the throw-in, but a foul halted their advance, giving Brunei a spot hit. The play was stopped when a Malaysian player fell down.
The play started with a 60-yard penalty in favour of Brunei due to a Malaysian player clipping the back of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar’s horse.
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar’s score helped lead the game to 3-1. Malaysia launched a counter-attack, but the ball ran over the backline.
Brunei took the hit-in, and Malaysia earned a spot hit about 80 yards out. Brunei held firm in defence to end the first chukka.
He continued, “The chukka 2 started with a throw in. Malaysia gained an advantage and finished with a field goal 3-2. Malaysia won the throw and attacked wide to the right. Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar ran to the goal and won a foul inside the 40 yards, with a penalty of 30 yards awarded in favour of Brunei, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar hits the ball wide to the right.”
Malaysia hit in to restart play, and a foul by Brunei led the umpires to move the penalty up to the halfway line. Brunei defended well and won the ball spot hit for Brunei.
Meanwhile, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar and Farid saw the ball run just wide of the right post, leading to a hit-in for Malaysia.
Farid intercepted the hit-in, but Malaysia pushed forward again before knocking the ball out. Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar took the next hit-in, sending a pass to Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, who finished with a field goal to put Brunei ahead 4-2.
The Brunei polo team won a penalty 30 yards to make it 5-2 thanks to Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar, who was on form with his penalties. Malaysia scored to close the gap 5-3 to end the second chukka.
The third chukka, thrown in from the middle, allowed Brunei to attack and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen capitalised the score to extend Brunei lead to 6-3.
Half way through the third chukka, after a quick horses change, the game started with a throw in where Brunei won possession and a penalty 30 yards out, where Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar scored to make it 7-4, taking Brunei into the lead.
However, a penalty was awarded to Malaysia. Malaysia then moved down the field with Brunei defending well.
A counter attack created a great play for Brunei to win a penalty 60 yards for Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar, who made the score line 8-4.
The game started with great teamwork as Brunei moved up the field, with a near goal from Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, but the play was stopped by the whistle.
In the fourth and final chukka, the spot hit in favour of Malaysia, who were working their way up the field to score a field goal making it 8-5. Brunei won the throw in again with a spot hit from the middle.
Malaysia defended well and turned the game around to put pressure on Brunei.
The play stopped with a penalty in favour of Malaysia making the score 8-6.
Brunei held on with half a chukka left, while Malaysia kept putting pressure and nearly scored.
However, the whistle went off with the spot hitting in favour of Brunei. Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar found a space and passed to Farid, who won an important foul.
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar hit a 30-yard penalty to extend Brunei’s lead to 9-6.
The team held on to the lead and secured the all-important win to march into the final. – JAMES KON
