After over a year of preparation the Sydney Polo Club welcomes the international polo community for the XI FIP World Polo Championship Sydney 2017. Today, the first game of the WPC will be played between Argentina and the USA. Argentina, led by Diego “Topo” Braun and the United States will definitely kick off the World Cup with a game full of excitement. Both teams are well prepared and have been planning their strategies for long. In the second match Australia encounters Spain. This match will possibly be the most awaited and crowded of the day. The local team, featuring polo stars Alec White and Jack Archibald among others, will face Spain, who counts with remarkable figures such as Pelayo Berazadi, Benjamin Araya and José Trenor in a thrilling dispute. Tomorrow, Sunday 22nd October, England will meet India. The second game of the day Chile plays against New Zealand. (click for the schedule).
The WPC schedule has been planned with the aim to cater all tastes: besides world-class high-speed polo, there are evening events full of joyful live acts after every game day; combined with several equestrian disciplines such as rodeo, showjumping and even jousting. The team presentation was held last Wednesday at the Sydney Polo Club. Now it’s time for the inaugural games, that will be accompanied by a great opening ceremony, art fair and live entertainment.
Team Argentina
Argentina has qualified for the World Championship eight out of 11 championships. They won the championship in 1987, 1992, 1998 and 2011. They placed in 1989, 1995 and 2001.
Argentina will be playing on the Saturday 21st, Tuesday 24th, Saturday 28th and if they make it into the top four they will also play on Sunday the 29th October.
Players: Tomás María Panelo, Héctor Guerrero, Ignacio Javier Bello, Lucio Fernández Ocampo, Valentín Novillo Astrada, Iván Maldonado, Diego Braun
Team Australia
Australia has qualified for the World Championship three times out of 11 championships, in 1987, 2001 and 2004. In 2001 Australia came second in a tightly contested final with Brazil. Jack Archibald, six-time capped national player, will captain the Australian team at the XI FIP World Polo Championship. “Representing your country at any level is a great privilege but to be a part of the World Cup team and having the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd makes it even more special and a once in a lifetime opportunity. We have a mix of experienced and some fantastic up-and-coming players so will work hard to play a smart team game,” Jack Archibald says. “Hopefully we can use playing on home soil in front of family, friends and a supportive Aussie crowd to our advantage and do everyone proud.”
Australia will be playing on the Saturday 21st, Tuesday 24th, Saturday 28th and if they make it into the top four they will also play on Sunday the 29th October.
Players: Jack Archibald, Alex Barnet, Jake Daniels, Lachlan Gilmore, George Hill, Jack Kiely, James Lester, Daniel O’Leary, Alec White
Team Chile
Chile is the current title holder of the World Championship. Chile won the title twice in 2008 and 2015. Chile has a strong competitive history with one silver in 1992, one bronze in 2004 and a fourth place in 1989.
Chile will be playing on the Sunday 22nd, Wednesday 25th, Saturday 28th and if they make it into the top four they will also play on Sunday the 29th October.
Players: José Zegers, Martin Arrau, Andres Vial Perez, Jose Miguel, Pereira Riesco, María Silva Castelblanco, Ignacio Vial Mazieres, Antonio Eguiguren, Jose Thomas von Unger Orchard
Team England
England is currently ranked 5th in the world. Although they have never won a World Championship they have come runner up in 1989 and 2004, they received a bronze medal in 1992 and 1998. England is fiercely competitive and has narrowly missed out on coming top three in 1995, 2001 and 2015.
England will be playing on the Sunday 22nd, Wednesday 25th, Saturday 28th and if they make it into the top four they will also play on Sunday the 29th October.
Players: Adolfo Casabal, Edward Banner-Eve, Henry Porter, Josh Cork, Peter Webb, Satnam Singh Dhillon
Team Spain
Spain is currently ranked 9th in the world. Their best achievements to date are a fourth place in 1987 and a fourth place in 2008.
Spain will be playing on the Saturday 21st, Tuesday 24th, Saturday 28th and if they make it into the top four they will also play on Sunday the 29th October.
Players: Antonio Ayesa Guix, Benjamín Araya, Jaime Serra Diez, José Marío Trénor Lowestein, Luis Benjumea Llorente, Mario Gomez, Pelayo Berazadi Rózpide
Team India
India will be playing on the Sunday 22nd, Wednesday 25th, Saturday 28th and if they make it into the top four they will also play on Sunday the 29th October.
Players: Angad Kalaan, HH Sawai Padmanabh Singh, Col Ravi Rathore, Dhruv Pal Godara, Pranav Kapur, Siddhant Sharma, Uday Kalaan
Team New Zealand
New Zealand has not qualified for the World Championship before, however it has been knocked out in the preliminary round before.
New Zealand will be playing on the Sunday 22nd, Wednesday 25th, Saturday 28th and if they make it into the top four they will also play on Sunday the 29th October.
Players: Cody Forsyth, Glen Sherriff, Guy Higginson, Henry Jones, Jonny Jones, Kit Brooks, Mark Duncan, Richard Hunt, Adam Haworth, Nick Keyte, Sam Martin
Team USA
The USA has placed in two World Polo Championships, winning the gold in 1989 and coming second in 2015. They were very narrowly defeated in 2015 losing in overtime. In 1998, the fifth World Championship was held at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Santa Barbara, California.
United States of America will be playing on the Saturday 21st, Tuesday 24th, Saturday 28th and if they make it into the top four they will also play on Sunday the 29th October.
Players: Bob Puetz, Daniel Galindo, Felipe Viana, Jesse Bray, Jimmy Wright, Matías Gonzalez
