In a breathtaking display of skill and nerve, Team FG/Asean emerged as the champions of the 14th Lahore Open Polo Championship 2025, claiming the coveted Patrons Cup. They achieved this feat by narrowly defeating a determined Diamond Paints team with a scoreline of 8-7 in a final that extended into a sudden-death extra-time chukka. The grand finale, held at the historic Lahore Polo Club, drew a massive crowd of spectators, polo enthusiasts, and families, creating an electric atmosphere.
A Star-Studded Gathering for a Prestige Final
The significance of the event was underscored by the presence of numerous distinguished personalities from Pakistan's corporate and social spheres. The guest list featured Diamond Paints CEO Mir Shoaib Ahmed, Master Paints Director Sufi Muhammad Haroon, and Black Horse Paints CEO Chaudhry Muhammad Siddique. Also in attendance were Guard Group Director Taimur Ali Malik, Newage Cables Director Adnan Jalil Azam, Remington Pharma Director Dr. Faisal Qadeer Khokhar, The Retrieve Bar CEO Nafees Barry, Babar Naseem, AOS Director Hamza Ali Hakim, and members of the Lahore Polo Club Executive Committee, including Raja Aamir, Feroze Gulzar, and Saqib Khan Khakwani.
The Rollercoaster Match: From Early Lead to Golden Goal
The final match was a masterclass in high-stakes polo, characterized by intense competition and dramatic momentum shifts. Diamond Paints seized the early initiative, ending the first chukka with a 2-1 lead. They managed to maintain this slender advantage through the second and third chukkas, going into the final period of regular play with a 5-4 lead.
However, the fourth chukka witnessed a spectacular resurgence from FG/Asean. Inspired by a phenomenal performance from Raja Mikayial Sami, they mounted a fierce comeback. Both teams traded blows in a high-octane exchange, but FG/Asean's three goals against Diamond Paints' two forced a 7-7 deadlock at the end of regulation time, pushing the contest into a sudden-death extra chukka.
Heroes of the Final and Closing Ceremony Honors
The tension of the sudden-death period was broken by veteran player Saqib Khan Khakwani, who displayed immense composure to strike the golden goal, sealing a dramatic 8-7 victory for FG/Asean. Raja Mikayial Sami was the undisputed star of the match, contributing a monumental seven goals to his team's tally, with Khakwani adding the decisive eighth. For Diamond Paints, Raja Jalal Arsalan led the charge with five goals, supported by Mir Huzaifa Ahmed and Raja Temur Nadeem with one goal each.
In the closing ceremony, Raja Mikayial Sami was rightly adjudged the best player of the match. The award for the best pony of the final was presented for "Chakira," owned by Diamond Paints CEO Mir Shoaib Ahmed. Earlier in the day, the third-place playoff saw BN Polo secure a comfortable 11-3 victory over Master Paints Black.
The 14th Lahore Open Polo Championship concluded on a high note, cementing its status as a premier event in Pakistan's sporting calendar. The thrilling final, decided by the finest of margins, provided unforgettable excitement for all in attendance and showcased the very best of elite polo competition.
