ABU DHABI // Ignacio Heguy scored seven goals as Zedan Polo of Saudi Arabia overpowered Habtoor of Dubai 9-6 yesterday to win the championship of the biggest polo tournament in the region, the President of the UAE Cup.
"This has been a great season for us and we are so happy to have won the biggest tournament of the year," Heguy said. "Now we look forward to playing in more tournaments together."
The Argentine professional scored 28 goals during the tournament to lead all competitors and was named Most Valuable Player of the eight-team competition played at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club.
The highest scorer in the amateur ranks was Zedan's patron, Amr Zedan, who had four goals.
"I am very happy to have been able to help my team win this event but it is a team effort," said Heguy, a four-time champion in the Argentine Open. "I think the fact that our patron was also the highest amateur scorer demonstrates how much strength we have across the team."
The game matched unbeaten sides, and Habtoor had recently won the Dubai Gold Cup.
Fran Elizalde scored three goals for Habtoor, including two in the third chukker as the Dubai side closed to 7-5. However, Heguy scored twice in the final period to secure the victory for Zedan.
Ghantoot Land Rover, defending champions in the tournament, defeated the Dubai side Bin Drai 4-2 in the subsidiary final.
Ghantoot's professional Hugo Barabucci scored a hat-trick, and the Emirati Ahmed Al Nueimi, scored once. Bin Drai's goals came from Nicolas Petracchi and the team patron, Rashid bin Drai.
"We knew this tournament was going to be tough," Barabucci said. "After the disappointment of not making the grand final we were determined that we should win the subsidiary final.
"It has been fantastic to be a part of this tournament and I'm happy we ended it with a win." Saeed bin Houfan, vice chairman of the host club, said he was pleased to see a large crowd.
"We always try to make the sport of polo as accessible as we can and we feel that by throwing open our gates to the general public for our biggest events, we are promoting this historic sport to the people of the UAE," he said.
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