Argentina Celebrates Independence Day With A Difference

By Azzah Mohamad Som KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (Bernama) -- When it comes to sports, Argentina is not just about football supremo Messi or the legendary Maradona, the Latin American country is also renowned for polo, which the embassy showcased here Tuesday to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the country's independence. According to Argentine Ambassador to Malaysia, Manuel Balaguer Salas, (centre) Malaysians on the streets were always asking him and his colleagues about Maradona (Diego Maradona) and Messi (Lionel Messi). "However, we feel that it is interesting for you to know that the standard of polo in Argentina is also widely regarded as the best in the world," he said in his speech at the independence day celebration held at the Royal Selangor Polo Club. It was indeed a celebration with a difference as apart from a polo match between the Argentine and Malaysian team, the embassy also put up the lively tango dances to entertain around 300 guests, who included Ambassadors, High Commissioners, diplomats and Malaysian dignitaries. The Malaysian government was represented by Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan who was the guest-of-honour. Touching on bilateral relations, the ambassador said that language and distance were no longer barriers to a strong relationship. "On the polo field today (Tuesday), we have both Malaysian and Argentine polo players, riding Argentine horses in this beautiful club in Kuala Lumpur and this activity taking place more than 16,000km from Buenos Aires, is possible because language and distance are no longer barriers to establishing strong and fruitful bilateral relations," he said. The ambassador said that Argentina and Malaysia formally established diplomatic ties in 1967 and that next year will be the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He said that to commemorate this "milestone" the embassy has already begun working to showcase in Malaysia the best of Argentine culture, traditions, sports and gastronomy along with other Argentine's many outstanding products and services. The Argentine team 'La Sarita' won the polo game and was presented with a trophy. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA