International Steels Limited [ISL], the largest Flat Steel manufacturer in Pakistan and patrons of the King of Games, Polo, partnered with the Lahore Polo Club to sponsor one of the most prestigious sporting tournaments in Asia: The International Steels Limited National Open Polo Championship for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2019. The tournament commenced on the 25^th of February with a sensational final match between Master Paints [Black] and Master Paints [Grey] on the 10^th of March 2019 at the historic Lahore Polo Club. Master Paints [Black] with Sufi Muhammad Amir, Ahmed Ali Tiwana, Raja Temur Nadeem and Matias Vial Parez took home the coveted Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2019.

Prior to the final match, ISL hosted a lunch for corporate personalities and patrons of Polo members of the art, fashion, literary, design, music and sports communities.

The honorable Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training and Federal Minister for National History and Literary Heritage, Mr. Shafqat Mahmood attended the final as the Chief Guest and watched the final of the International Steels Limited National Open Polo Championship for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2019 along with the President of the Polo Club, Mr. Malik Atif Yar Tiwana and Executive Director ISL Mr. Samir Chinoy following which a prize distribution ceremony was held.

“It was a great honor to be here at the Lahore Polo club and we value the opportunity to partner with the Lahore Polo Club for the 2019 Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup one of the most important tournaments in the Pakistan Polo calendar. Having played in my younger days, I feel humbled to have the opportunity to help promote a sport that bought me much joy and taught me valuable lessons on Strategy, Teamwork and Determination, the same ethos that International Steels has showed since its came into being in 2011” said Mr. Samir Chinoy, Executive Director, ISL.

He further added that, “International steels believe in being part of shaping tomorrow, which, simply put, is to lead by example and promote brand Pakistan by redefining what it means to be Made in Pakistan. We will continue to strive to give back to Pakistan by supporting various initiatives such as the Arts and Sports and in doing so hope that other corporates follow. I would like to thank the Lahore Polo Club, the Patrons, umpires, players both local and foreign, who I hope will be our ambassador as they return to their countries and as the partake in the world polo circuit. I would also like to acknowledge and appreciate Mr. Emran Akhtar for bringing us together with the Lahore Polo Club and with the sport of polo”.

 A 14 goal tournament, this year’s championship was contested between five participating teams with players from Argentina, Chile, Pakistan and the UK, including Nicolas Corti, Saqib Khan Khakwani, Juan Cruz Losada, Hissam Ali Hyder, Hamza Mawaz Khan, Salvador Ulloa, Raja Temur Nadeem, Matias Vial Parez, Ahmed Ali Tiwana, Bautista Bayuger, Raja Samiullah and Bilal Haye.

 Indeed, the National Polo Championship was first played and introduced in 1963 as the El Effendi Cup presented by Brig HM el Effendi. In 1977, it was renamed as Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup on the direction of government of Pakistan. The tournament has been played for some four decades with popularity all over the polo community domestically and internationally.