Princess Haya crowns Sheikha Maitha, winner of Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge

Dubai, Feb 24, 2013 (WAM) - Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum won the prestigious Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge yesterday. Sheikha Maitha was a key member of the Desert Palm team which had impressed all week, coming to the final unbeaten and hot favourite for the trophy. In this thrilling final, Desert Palm narrowly defeated last year's winners Cartier 6.5-6. Sheikha Maitha received the trophy and her winners' prize from the patron of this event, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She dedicated the trophy to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the model and mentor for all. She expressed pleasure at winning the challenge at her debut participation in the event. Four pro-am teams have been playing hard all week in this prestigious Cartier competition, now in its 8th year, and the many illustrious guests and team sponsors, Emirates NBD, CNN and Desert Palm were yesterday treated to two displays of fast paced polo. This included an earlier subsidiary final, for the Desert Palm Trophy, in which CNN defeated Emirates NBD 7.5-6. - Emirates News Agency, WAM