Diamond Paints/Master Paints secured a dramatic victory in the Allied Bank 97th Punjab Polo Cup in Lahore, edging FG Polo 5-4 in a tense final played under the Lahore Polo Club banner.
The match was decided by a standout performance from Iranian forward Amirreza Behbudi, who netted a hat-trick to lead the champions, while teammate Facundo Retamar contributed two decisive goals to close out the contest for the historic 141-year-old trophy.
FG Polo mounted relentless pressure throughout the final as Raul Laplacette matched Behbudi with three goals and Marcos Rivarola added one, but Diamond Paints/Master Paints held on to their narrow advantage as the final whistle blew in a match that kept spectators gripped until the end.
At the prize distribution ceremony, Amir Reza Behboudi was named Man of the Match for his three-goal display, and the best pony award went to Selina, owned by Sufi Muhammad Haroon, recognised for outstanding performance on the day.
Earlier, the Lahore Polo Club team claimed third place with a convincing 7-3 win over BN Polo, rounding out a full day of competition that highlighted the depth of polo talent in the region and the continued prestige of the Punjab Polo Cup.
The final was attended by chief guest Husnain Mirza, Group Head CRBG Allied Bank Limited, alongside Lahore Polo Club President Malik Azam Hayat Noon, executive committee members, senior club patrons and a large gathering of families and polo supporters, underscoring the sport’s strong roots in Lahore.
Captain Mir Huzaifa Ahmed expressed pride after the victory, saying, “It is a matter of immense pride to have our names etched on the world’s oldest historical trophy. The team worked incredibly hard, and despite the intensity of such a close competition, we remained focused and secured the win.” The result reinforces the significance of the Punjab Polo Cup in Pakistan’s sporting calendar.
