Zedan: Desert Polo tournament a ‘game-changer’ for sport in the Kingdom

ALULA: Amr F. Zedan, chairman of the Saudi Polo Federation and board member of the Saudi Equestrian Authority, said that the second Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo tournament held on Feb. 11-12 will be a “game-changer” for the sport in the Kingdom.

With the return of the world’s first desert polo event, set to take place in AlUla for its second edition after its debut in 2020, the polo enthusiast and owner of Zedan Racing Stables in Kentucky said: “Last year, I described the world’s first tournament played in the desert as an ‘appetizer’. This year, it will be the full ‘main course,’ and I’m convinced it can be a game-changer for the sport in the Kingdom.

“As well as a world-class polo tournament, where spectators will witness the world’s best players in action, we’ll also be seeing some of the young up-and-coming Saudi players who were inspired by the first event. For me, that’s legacy in action, and I’m not surprised at all.

“Winston Churchill once said, ‘A polo handicap is a person’s ticket to the world,’ and he was right. That’s why we’ve seen young men and women in the Kingdom take notice and want to get involved.”

As well as the elite tournament, there will also be a series of polo masterclasses, one led by La Dolfina founder Adolfo Cambiaso, who is widely regarded as the best player in the history of the game.

“Prince Bader Al-Farhan, the minister of culture and governor of AlUla, has been one of the driving forces behind this initiative. He saw the potential straight away, and what we delivered last year set a high bar and has provided a great platform to build on for this year,” Zedan said.

The polo event will see four teams compete in a purpose-built desert arena close to the ancient site of Hegra, Saudi