General Amar Singh Kanota Cup: Semi Final Highlights

Jaipur, Rajasthan – The semi-finals of the General Amar Singh Kanota Cup were played on 22nd September, 2018. The first semi-final was played between Riverside Polo team and Krishna Polo team at 3:30 pm. Both the teams were equally strong and the match was a no-winner till the last minute. Two back to back semi-finals were played on the day. Krishna Polo played with Vishal Singh (+3), Samir Suhag (+5), Ashvini Sharma (0) and Vandit Golecha (0). Riverside Polo stood strong with Simran Shergill (+6), Bhawani Kalvi (+2), Kuldeep Singh (+2) and Samir Mecca (-2). The match was a no-winner till the end. Although Riverside Polo had taken a good lead in the first half they weren’t able to maintain it and the scores were levelled in the third chukker. The 8-goal match was destructive and intense and had the audience on their toes the whole time.


Vishal Singh scored the first goal of the match for Krishna Polo team. Krishna Polo team extended their lead when Vishal Singh scored one more and the scoreboard displayed the score 2 – 0. Simran Shergill responded back with two back to back goals for the Riverside Polo team to help them level the scores. The score after first chukker was 2 – 2. The second chukker opened with a goal from Simran Shergill. Simran Shergill scored one more to extend Riverside Polo team’s lead. They were leading by 4 – 2 when Vishal Singh scored one for Krishna Polo team. Simran Shergill ended the first half with two back to back goals. Riverside Polo team were leading the match by 6 – 3 after the first half.


Ashvini Sharma opened the third chukker with a goal for Krishna Polo team. The score was 6 – 4 with Riverside Polo in the lead when Vishal Singh scored one more for Krishna Polo team to help them get back in the game. Bhawani Kalvi scored one for Riverside Polo team. The score on the scoreboard was 7 – 5 when Samir Suhag scored for Krishna Polo team. Vandit Golecha closed the third chukker with a goal and helped Krishna Polo team level the scores. The third chukker ended on a score of 7 – 7. The match could swing any side now. Both the teams were ready to give their best to grab the match. Riverside Polo team scored the first goal of the last chukker and took the lead. The score was 8 – 7 now and the goal was scored by Simran Shergill. Bhawani Kalvi scored one more for the Riverside Polo team to extend their lead. The score was 9 – 7 when Samir Suhag scored one for Krishna Polo team to increase their hopes but Simran Shergill scored a brilliant goal in the last minutes for Riverside Polo team and the score was 10 – 8 and it was clear Riverside will win the match. Vishal Singh scored one in the last minutes but it couldn’t help much as Krishna Polo team lost the match by 10 – 9. Riverside Polo team beat Krishna Polo team by 10 - 9 and became the first team to qualify for the final.


 

Sahara Warriors emerge as the winners in second semi-final

 

 

The second semi-final of the General Amar Singh Kanota Cup was played between Sahara Warriors and Jaipur Polo team on 22nd September at 4:30 pm. Sahara Warriors were playing with Cote Zegers (+5), Salim Azmi (+3), Pranav Kapur (+2) and Hurr Ali (-2). Jaipur Polo had Abhimanyu Pathak (+5), HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh (+3), Pratap Kanota (+2) and Jems (-2). Although not many goals were scored in the match but it was a pretty exciting semi-final with no clear winner until the fourth chukker. The 8-goal match was destructive and intense and had the audience on their toes the whole time.


HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh scored the first goal of the match and helped Jaipur Polo team take a lead in the start. The score was 1 – 0 when Pranav Kapur equalled the scores and scored one for Sahara Warriors. Hurr Ali scored one for Sahara Warriors and helped them extend their lead. Jaipur Polo team couldn’t score any more goals in the first chukker but Sahara Warriors didn’t stop scoring. Cote Zegers scored one in the last minutes of the first chukker for Sahara Warriors and the score after first chukker was 3 – 1 with Sahara Warriors in the lead. Only one goal was scored in the second chukker. Jems scored the only goal in the second chukker for Jaipur Polo team. The score after first half was 3 – 2 with Sahara Warriors still leading.

Abhimanyu Pathak levelled the scores by scoring a dazzling goal in the third chukker. The score displayed on the scoreboard was 3 – 3 now. But a goal from Cote Zegers in the final minutes of the third chukker changed that. Sahara Warriors had taken a lead now and the score was 4 – 3. The third chukker ended with Sahara Warriors in the lead by 4 – 3. Cote Zegers scored one more in the last chukker and ensured a spot in the finals for Sahara Warriors. Abhimanyu Pathak scored a consolation in the closing minutes of the last chukker and the match ended with Sahara Warriors beating Jaipur Polo team by 5 – 4. Sahara Warriors were the second team to qualify for the final.