HUA HIN : The 2012 King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament kicked off yesterday. The event began with colourful parades of elephants through the main street of the resort town and a traditional ceremony overseen by monks.
A fruit buffet is held for elephants before the King’s Cup Elephants Polo. CHAIWAT SARDYAEM
The opening match saw the finest players pitted against each other in the rumble in the jungle. The first star-studded match was last year's winners Audemars Piguet against New Zealand's All Blacks, captained by Robin Brooke and sponsored by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
The first half was a battle between the world's best on both sides but it was Audemars Piguet's Angad Kaalan who scored the first goal of this year's tournament.
The All Blacks did not put much pressure on the champions, who scored several goals and showed their vast experience by dominating the game.
Audemars Piguet won the first game of the tournament 11-7.
All elephants taking part in the tournament are street elephants. All funds raised from the King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament will be donated to various projects throughout Thailand. To date the tournament has raised almost US$500,000.
DAY 1 RESULTS
Rueng Chang 10 The Nellies 7, PWC 7 Audemars Piguet 11, King Power 17 Anantara 8, Kasikornbank 5 Citibank 4, Blue Label 6 PTT 4, Mercedes Benz 9 Sara Story Design 6, Kasikornbangk 4 Rueng Chang 9, Audemars Piguet 13 PTT 7, King Power 16 Sara Story Design 7