FG/Asean clinch Lahore Open Polo Championship after thrilling Sudden-Death Win

FG/Asean emerged champions of the Lahore Open Polo Championship 2025 after defeating Diamond Paints 8-7 in a dramatic sudden-death final at the Lahore Polo Club, 24NewsHD TV reported on Sunday. 

The grand final was witnessed by a large turnout of spectators, families, and prominent figures from the corporate and polo fraternity, which proved to be a high-quality and fiercely contested encounter.

Diamond Paints took the early initiative, but FG/Asean staged a strong comeback in the fourth chukka, inspired by the outstanding performance of Raja Mikayial Sami.

With scores level at the end of regulation time, the match moved into extra time, where FG/Asean sealed the title with a golden goal.

For the champions, Raja Mikayial Sami delivered a stellar performance, scoring seven goals, while Saqib Khan Khakwani added one, including the decisive sudden-death goal.

Diamond Paints’ goals came through Raja Jalal Arsalan, who struck five, while Mir Huzaifa Ahmed and Raja Temur Nadeem contributed one goal each.

Diamond Paints opened the final with an early field goal to take a 1-0 lead before FG/Asean equalised to make it 1-1.

Just before the end of the opening chukka, Diamond Paints regained the lead at 2-1.

The second chukka saw both sides exchange goals in an entertaining phase, scoring twice each, with Diamond Paints maintaining a slender 4-3 advantage at halftime.

Both teams added one goal apiece in the third chukka, keeping Diamond Paints ahead at 5-4.

The intensity peaked in the fourth chukka as FG/Asean rose to the challenge, scoring three goals against two from Diamond Paints to draw level at 7-7 and force a sudden-death chukka.

In the decisive moment, veteran campaigner Saqib Khan Khakwani held his nerve to score a superb golden goal, securing a memorable victory for FG/Asean.

Earlier, in the third-place playoff, BN Polo defeated Master Paints Black 11-3 to claim third position.

The final was attended by several distinguished guests, including Diamond Paints CEO Mir Shoaib Ahmed, Master Paints Director Sufi Muhammad Haroon, Black Horse Paints CEO Chaudhry Muhammad Siddique, 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, along with senior officials and executive committee members of the Lahore Polo Club.

At the closing ceremony, Raja Mikayial Sami was named Player of the Match, while the Best Pony of the Final award went to “Chakira,” owned by Mir Shoaib Ahmed.