Cover His Excellency Manuel Balaguer Salas and Guadalupe Cernusco Cornejo
His Excellency Manuel Balaguer Salas and Guadalupe Cernusco Cornejo
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On December 12, 2021, the polo community in Malaysia traded in their riding boots and breeches for elegant eveningwear as they attended The Royal Malaysian Polo Association’s soirée at Glasshouse, an exquisite indoor garden venue nestled in the lush hills of Seputeh
For many of the guests, it was the first time they were coming together after a year of lockdown restrictions and cancelled events. With this in mind, the soirée organisers—who also happen to be fellow equestrians and polo players—prepared an exciting tournament for the evening, a much-needed outlet for their competitive spirit. Split into ten teams, each named after the teams who have won the most titles at the Argentine Open Polo Championship, they made a beeline to the polo-inspired game stations, including horseshoe-throwing and knocking down pins with foot mallets, to score the most points for their teams.
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The evening officially began with a warm welcome by president of the Royal Malaysian Polo Association, Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria to the guests of honour, including royal patrons, the ambassador of Argentina in Malaysia and his wife, the minister of youth and sports in Malaysia as well as esteemed members of the Olympic Council of Malaysia.
Notably, his speech recounted the rich history of polo in Malaysia and commended the resilience of the local polo community in the face of difficult times, attributing their support to the growth of the sport in the country and region. He also spoke for the entire room in expressing his excitement for the start of the polo season in February after a long hiatus, starting with the first of the Merdeka League tournaments.
Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria
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Before long, the party was in full swing as members of the polo society, old and new, reunited and filling each other in on their lives. And if you were to listen in to their conversations, you would discover a close-knit community that found camaraderie in their shared passion for polo and created a culture that respects the heritage of the sport in Malaysia, celebrates every win together and provides warm advice and encouragement for all.
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It was most evident during the prize-giving ceremony, which recognised the contributions of outstanding individuals.
Rashid Hasnan and Dato’ Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu
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The room echoed with cheers as polo player, coach, trainer and multiple SEA Games medallist, Rashid Hasnan was named The Most Accomplished Youth in 2021. Other prizes were also given to the most dedicated horse owner, the most stylish players, and the most cheerful groom. The ceremony closed with the highly anticipated announcement of the winning team for the soirée games: Indios Chapaleufú I, a female-led team.
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But the night was far from over. They took the dance floor before slowly making their way home, leaving with excitement for the activities and celebrations in the upcoming year.
Take a closer look into the RMPA's all-white party below.
Che Puan Temenggong Perlis Datin Seri DiRaja Farinawati Datuk Mohd Din and Tengku Syarif Temenggong Perlis Dato’ Sri Diraja Syed Amir Abidin
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Based in Kuala Lumpur, Zue Wei Leong is the senior style writer at Tatler Malaysia. Read her stories on the latest in fashion, beauty and jewellery or follow her on Instagram at @fshnbrnr.
