8th FIP Polo World Championship gets started in Mexico
The final stage of the 8th World Championship of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) kicked off in true Mexican style this week when eight nations joined battle at the Tecamac Polo Club north of Mexico City. Competing for FIP’s coveted World Cup are reigning champions Brazil. Mexico, Chile, Canada, England, Spain, New Zealand and South Africa.
England fell to Brazil 7-5 in the first match on Thursday, followed by New Zealand’s win over Canada 5-3.5. Then at midday the polo action was suspended for a spectacular inaugural ceremony which included an colourful show on Tecamac’s No. 1 ground reflecting the host country’s cultural heritage from the time of the Aztecs to the present day
In games following the ceremonies, Chile beat Spain 6-5 and Mexico triumphed over South Africa 9-5.
On Saturday the championships moved into Mexico City, to the Campo Marte in the heart of the nation’s capital. The military ground provided a spectacular venue against a backdrop of the city’s skyscrapers. Mexico defeated England 9-8 in a hard-fought match.
Action returns to Tecamac Sunday with games between Spain and New Zealand, Chile and Canada, and Brazil against South Africa.
Viva Mexico
Four Latin teams have advanced to the semi-finals in the final stage of the 8th World Championship of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) in Mexico, with the host country facing Chile and Brazil playing Spain tomorrow, May 1.
The last league matches were played yesterday at Tecamac Polo Club north of Mexico City with all eight competing nations in action. Brazil, current holders of the FIP World Cup, beat Mexico 8-5. Spain won over Canada 9-6. South Africa defeated England 4.5-4, and Chile overwhelmed New Zealand 14.5-6.
There was high drama in the first chukka of the Mexico-Brazil match when Mexico’s Carlitos Gracida and Ulysses Escapite crashed into one another. Neither pony was injured, but Carlitos, at age 17 one of the youngest players in the World Cup, suffered an injury to his mouth that required stitches. Mexico coach Robert Gonzalez decided to replace him with Diego Velarde Villareal and, to keep the team handicap level, substituted Escapite with Jesus Solórzano Jr.
The semi-finals are scheduled to be played at Campo Marte in the heart of the capitol on Thursday, but if that ground is too soaked from recent rains the semis may be moved to Tecamac instead.
