When the Triple Crown 2022in mid-September, the Polo Argentina Association He announced that on his 100th anniversary he would experience the best high handicap season in history. He had reason to make that promise.
After more than a decade dominated by two almost invincible teams, the map of the Argentine polo has changed in recent years, with the appearance of some teams that have managed to break the hegemony built by the dolphin Y Ellerstina.
And in what we have seen turtles Y Hurlinghamwith some surprises, close and fun games, four great protagonists and two totally different endings, he confirmed that the prognosis was not wrong and he charted a special scenario for the Argentine Open Championshipthe big event of the season, which kicks off this Tuesday.
From 1 pm, on field 2 of the Alfredo Lalor de Pilar headquarters, the game will be played for Zone A The Irenita Grand Champions-La Hache Perpool. And at 16:30 they will do it at 1 The RS Murus Sanctus bay–Irenita Gsquared.
“This edition of Palermo seems to be one of the best in history”, he anticipated Uranga dolphin, president of the AAP, in the presentation of the tournament. “We have mature people, but also very young people. This is very good for sport. It is not known who the title will be for. Unlike in other years, it is not defined who will win. In Tortugas and Hurlingham we played in two different finals and that is why we have high expectations for this event, “he added.
The old candidate and the new candidates
There are always favorites and in the face of the competition there are three teams that are one or two steps higher than the others.
La Dolfina and Ellerstina, historic world powers of polo, winners of 17 of the last 20 titles (14 for the Cañuelas team and three for General Rodríguez). Y the nativitywho broke in 2019, was the great ruler last year (he was crowned in Hurlingham and Palermo) and was Tortugas champion in 2022.
He has joined those three in the last few days irenitaa new line-up, which became the revelation of this season by reaching the final in Hurlingham, having surprised all Castagnola in closing the area, and gave battle change and company in the definition of that competition, last Saturday. With that performance, the first team of the family Mac Donough he earned a place among the Palermo candidates.
“The goal is to reach the semifinals, knowing that there are very brave teams in a difficult area. There are teams that are higher up, but you can play against them and you can beat them.”
Girolamo del Carril
Murus Sanctus Bay
The four start the title race with an advantage. But unlike what happened a few years ago, no one arrives at the Open with the “invincible” badge.. The rivals know this, they are excited to give a few hits, as happened in the first two rounds of the Triple Crown.
In addition to that sensational triumph of La Irenita (36 goals) against La Natividad (39), who cut the “green” team from 11 unbeaten games, in the same match Ellerstina (38) lost against La Ensenada Murus Sanctus (34) and La Dolfina (39), with Irenita II (32).
And so are the players of those four formations, which are emerging as the great protagonists of the most important tournament of the year.
“It is clear that they are no longer Ellerstina, La Dolfina and the rest. Natividad appeared with the Castagnola, who are great players. There are also other very good players, like Juan Martin Zubia, Juano British, Fran Elisaldewho is a great player, the Toad (Case), Facu Alone… Many who have come together and put together good teams. you have Breed La Dolfinaa tough team that plays very well, with a tommy Panelo which has a great future. oa baptismo Bayugar in La Irenita II “, analyzed Gonzalo Pieresthree times champion of Palermo with Ellerstina.
“There are many good teams, many guys who play well. And the truth is that there are many difficult games that you can play. You have to be prepared and know that, even if on paper you have to win them, they come out to play like in a final and you have to Do the same. For the spectator it is very good, even if the truth is that as a player I always want to be up there and that the results do not surprise us, “he continued.
“We need to be connected, because the matches depend on the day of the horses and the players. We want to add points to be classified for next year.”
William Terrera
The Dolfina II
Ignazio Du Plessisone of the figures the nativityhe explained it with a simple sentence: “The Polo is in a very healthy moment”.
The South African commented: “I don’t think the loss against La Irenita was a surprise, as were the other similar results at Hurlingham. I think the level of all the teams has improved and everything is very balanced. And it’s great. It is a lot of fun to watch and play games. It will certainly be a very balanced Palermo, with many beautiful duels, which forces you to always play well. ”
“We had a very difficult area, with Ellerstina and La Dolfina. The top four aspire to raise the cup. We want to have fun, play well and do well. And we try to stay for next year.”
Battista Bayugar
Irenita II
Natividad started the season with everything and beat Ellerstina in the Tortugas final. In Hurlingham neither team managed to reach the decisive clash. The Castagnola, Paolo Pieres and Du Plessis fell in “semi” with La Irenita. And the “Z” lost by a landslide against the dolphin.
Saturday, the set of Adolfo Cambiaso won in a tight final against the team led by Paul MacDonough and added his first Triple Crown title since Palermo 2020.
“The fact that those two endings were different tells you that there is a high level today. It is all very uniform. We have seen games where one team won against one and then lost against another. This is very good for polo. It is very good for the spectator and keeps you focused, because we know we have to be at the best level to win, “she commented. David Stirlinga story of the dolphin.
“It was a great season, very competitive. We will have a very fun Palermo, with many good matches and many teams with chances”, the Uruguayan predicted.
Juan Martin Zubiaone of the young talents of La Irenita and who on Saturday had the pleasure of playing his first Triple Crown final, celebrated this new reality of Argentine polo.
“Looking into it, this opens up new possibilities for new players. There are teams a little higher for organizational reasons, but today everything is very balanced. In terms of horsepower, everything has leveled up a lot. Today all the teams have a good herd. And that puts you on the pitch knowing that you can beat anyone and even lose to anyone, “Zubia commented.
And he was excited: “We hope there will be a Palermo like last year, with unexpected results, because it will be good for the player and the spectator.”
“We have the expectation of winning a game and being among the eight by 2023. We will play difficult games, but in Palermo we will not allow anything, because the possibility of surprising is always there”.
santiago loza
Irenita III
all you need to know
The 129th Argentine Open Championship It will be played from this Tuesday to Friday 2 December, with ten teams between 28 and 39 PIR goals.
Natividad (39), reigning champion, will lead Zone A, which she will share with La Irenita (36), La Ensenada Murus Sanctus (34), La Irenita III (29) and La Hache (28), one of the classified.
“Playing Palermo is a dream. We qualified for the first time with this team and now we want to do our best. We try to give ourselves the chance to win games, but the important thing is to play well.”
Luca Giacomo
The corner
Dolfina (39), in search of her 15th title, will play in Zone B, which will also include Ellerstina (38), her classic rival, who last won the tournament in 2012, La Dolfina II (33) , Irenita II (32). And The corner (29), the other of the qualifying tournament.
The first two dates – Tuesday and Wednesday – will be held at the headquarters of the Argentina Association in Pilar, with the aim of not wearing out the playing fields so much. Argentine camp of Palermo. Then the tournament will be permanently installed on the Libertador and Dorrego grounds.
As happened for several sporting events around the world, Palermo’s programming was influenced by Qatar Soccer World Cupwhich will be played from November 20 to December 18, in an atypical time of the year for the FIFA tournament.
“It will be my debut in Palermo and it is a dream come true. We will try to improve match after match and have fun. All the teams are complicated. Our only goal is to get to the next edition.”
Carlos Ulloa
The H.
The final of the Open, which is traditionally played at the weekend, has been brought forward to Friday 2 December, because the round of 16 of the World Cup begins on Saturday 3 and the Argentine team could play that day or Sunday 4 the transition to the quarter-finals. the final. Y the ap he decided that it was better that the two events did not coincide.
Source: Clarin
