Bin Dasmal brothers set to saddle up

The bin Dismal brothers - Abdullah, Ahmed and Tariq - will lead the ADCB polo team against Estee Lauders on Saturday in an exhibition match to start the UAE season.

Abdullah bin Dasmal will ride with brothers Ahmed and Tariq for ADCB against Estee Lauders in an exhibition polo match on Saturday.
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The bin Dasmal brothers - Abdullah, Ahmed and Tariq - will play together for the first time when the UAE Polo season gets underway at the Royal Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club on Saturday.

The three brothers will combine with Oscar Colombres, the Argentine professional, for the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) against Estee Lauders, who are led by Nasser Al Dhaheri and include Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Matar Al Yabhouni and Ramiro Cordero, the Argentine professional, in the Pink Polo Family Day charity match.

"It is always a matter of personal pride when I get to play polo alongside my brothers and we are very pleased to be able to take to the field for such a worthwhile cause, to create an awareness of breast cancer," said Abdullah, the eldest of the three. "I haven't heard of three brothers playing in a polo team, particularly in this part of the world, so I think it is a rare occasion for us. We have played together a long time back but it is the first time at this level.

"Unlike in other sport, there is more talking between players in a polo match. It is more to co-ordinate the play than to quarrel or ague on mistakes."

The brothers are nephews of Khalifa bin Dasmal, who enjoyed racing fame as the owner of Dream Ahead.

The three-year-old colt won six of his nine career starts including five Group 1 prizes before being retired to stud earlier this month.

"The two teams are equal, but being a charity match, we intend to play an open game to entertain the crowd," Abdullah said.

"However, don't let the fact that this is a charity game fool you, polo players are exceptionally competitive, especially when there is the small matter of family pride at stake."

Carrie McNeil, the marketing manager of the club, said the Pink Polo Day is one of the most ground-breaking breast cancer awareness events, focusing on breaking taboos associated with the disease and highlighting the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment.

"It is designed as a fun family day out," she said.

"The main thrust of the day is centred on the pioneering 'Pink Majlis', where guests can talk with medical experts, meet breast cancer survivors, learn self-examination techniques and undergo free screenings at the Lifeline Hospital mobile mammography unit."