Yesterday, the opening matches of the 2013 Metropolitan Intervarsity Polo took place at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, China. Four teams from England and the USA compete in the tournament, which is held from July 23 to 28. The teams from the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Harvard University and Yale University were invited to participate in this tournament to raise awareness of polo amongst the region’s youth.
Dr. Richard Caleel, President of the Federation of International Polo (FIP), threw in the ball to start the first game. It was Yale University versus University of Cambridge in the inaugural match of the tournament, with Cambridge beating Yale by 15-1. In the following game Harvard defeated Oxford by 7-3.
The first goal of the match was scored by Sam Browne from the University of Cambridge in the first chukka of the match. Yale University fought hard to regain rhythm in the following chukka with a beautiful goal brought in by Rebecca Smith. The University of Cambridge maintained constant pressure on Yale University with Sam Browne demonstrating his power and precision scoring another four goals in the remaining chukkas. This lead was maintained until the final victory at the end, with the final score of 15-1 in favour of the University of Cambridge.
The second game matched Harvard University and University of Oxford and was a match that was an out and out scramble for dominance. Merrall Echezarreta kept everyone on their toes with a strong performance against the University of Oxford scoring four goals for Harvard University in the first three chukkas. To reclaim control, George Allen wrestled hard to try to salvage the situation for the University of Oxford. However, the excellent teamwork displayed by Harvard University saw their opponents being ultimately defeated 7 goals to 3.
The Club hopes that such tournaments will widen the horizons of Chinese youth and allow them to experience the beautiful game of polo as well as instil in them the values being driven off the back of polo. To inspire and groom young people by promoting the sport of polo to the next generation has been the Club’s polo development initiative.
Metropolitan Intervarsity Polo 2013 also provides a convenient platform for academic, cultural and social exchanges among representatives from the four universities, local students, parents as well as alumni. Today, the spectators and players will take a day to relax, before returning on Thursday, 25 July. Thursday’s matches will be: Harvard versus Cambridge and Yale versus Oxford.
- 28. November 2023
