Pink Polo exhibition match set to get the season rolling at Ghantoot

Dubai: One of the top annual charity events on the UAE’s polo calendar, Pink Polo Day will get the 2020/21 season underway at Ghantoot Polo and Racing Club (GRPC) on Thursday, 6 November.

SPORT FOR A CAUSE: Action from last year's Pink Polo event that aims to raise breast cancer awareness (GRPC)

The 11th edition of the event will once again be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club.

GRPC Chairman Sheikh Falah bin Zayed

Established as the Middle East’s and the UAE’s only royal club which offers world-class polo and equestrian facilities, GRPC will once again open its doors to a season full of activities starting with the inaugural exhibition game on Pink Polo Day which is driven to raise breast-cancer awareness.

The match will be played between a Ghantoot Polo A team featuring Abdullah Bin Desmal, Nassser Al Shamsi, Fahad Al Qubaisi and Manuel Toccalino, and a Ghantoot Polo B comprising Faris Al Yabhouni, Yousif Bin Desmal, Ali Al Merri and Miguel Delia.

The event will be held in accordance with strict COVID-19 protocols and safety regulations laid down by UAE government and health authorities.

Zayed Khalifa Zayed Al Aboudi Al Zaabi, the Executive Director of the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, said: “The strategic goal of Pink Polo Day is to spread breast-cancer awareness in society.

GRPC Executive Director Zayed Khalifa Al Zaabi

“The club through its social media channels has raised awareness and highlighted the factors associated with the increased risk of the disease and the campaign was supervised by a group of experts from the medical team, motivational speakers and public figures.

“The campaign also included several virtual awareness activities, such as publishing educational posts on social media accounts, motivate women to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent cancer and to create an educated society aware of the risks of disease and ways to prevent it.

“The activity is in the line with UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention’s strategy to promote healthy lifestyles and deliver comprehensive and integrated healthcare services in innovative and sustainable ways and to improve the outcomes of the national indicator reduce cancer mortalities which is one of the goals of the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021.”

The National Agenda emphasises the importance of preventive medicine and seeks to reduce cancer and lifestyle related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases to ensure a longer, healthy life for the UAE citizens.

Organisers will be hosting various social media competitions courtesy of GRPC and other event sponsors.