Korea Polo Federation Successfully Hosts the 2nd Manila Prestige Cup

The Korea Polo Federation announced on the 15th (local time) that it successfully held 'The 2nd KPF Manila Prestige Cup' at the Manila Polo Club, a century-old establishment located in Manila, Philippines.

The event was attended by Korea Polo Federation Chairman Jo Jun-hee, executives, and their families, along with Lee Sang-hwa, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, and embassy officials who showed enthusiastic support.

Cho Jun-hee, President of the Korea Polo Federation (far left), and players participating in the "2nd Korea Polo Federation Manila Prestige Cup" are taking a commemorative photo.
Photo by Korea Polo Federation

Additionally, prominent figures from the Philippines graced the occasion. Tony Pet, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Sandro Marcos, a member of the House and eldest son of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.; and Kazuya Endo, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, among many other distinguished guests, attended, making it an opportunity to further strengthen sports diplomacy and friendly relations between Korea and the Philippines.

Notably, on the 16th, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos personally encouraged the Korea Polo Federation players participating in the Philippine Polo Federation tournament at the venue. This was a meaningful meeting reaffirming the importance of sports exchange between the two countries.

Chairman Jo said, "Through this tournament, cooperation between the Korea and Philippine Polo Federations has been further strengthened, and it was a meaningful opportunity to widely promote Korea to leaders in the Philippines and globally." He added, "We plan to continue our efforts to develop international polo exchanges and sports diplomacy."

Building on the success of this event, the Korea Polo Federation plans to promote various international exchange activities and strive to globalize polo in Korea and enhance sports diplomacy.

Meanwhile, polo is a team sport played on horseback, where two teams compete while riding horses. Typically, four players form a team, and players use long, slender polo sticks to hit the polo ball into the opposing team’s goal to score points. Matches are usually played in several rounds consisting of four quarters, with speed and technical skills being key features. Although relatively unfamiliar in Korea, polo is widely enjoyed in Europe, including the United Kingdom.