When he plays polo, Sultan Abdullah is just himself

By Muhammad Ammar Shafiq Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah never takes his official status onto the polo ground whenever he plays the game.

A close friend and polo player Datuk Hata Ali said it is His Majesty’s keen interest and love for the sport that makes him set aside protocol.

The 73-year-old Hata said it is Sultan Abdullah’s openness and professionalism that has endeared the ruler to his teammates and opponents on the field.

“He is like you and me, even with his opponents on the field. Do not think that (during a game) his opponents will say … oh, he is royalty, we cannot go up against him.

“(In fact) he likes it when people go against him, which means he can fight back. He has a strong fighting spirit,” Hata told Bernama in an interview held in conjunction with the installation of Sultan Abdullah as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on July 30.

He said Sultan Abdullah’s interest in polo began in his teens when he followed the late Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah to the polo grounds.

It was also then that Hata and Sultan Abdullah became friends as they often met on the field.

According to Hata, Sultan Abdullah is very calculative as a polo player, applying logic to his moves as he reads the game well.

“He is also a great motivator on the field and likes to encourage the other players to stay focused, giving one hundred per cent to their efforts. Tuanku is an all-round sportsman. He knows everything about polo or hockey if you talk to him about these games,” he said.

Hata said that besides playing polo in the country, Sultan Abdullah often takes part in matches abroad such as in Argentina and England where he has played with renowned polo players and even Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.

Sultan Abdullah is currently the president of the Royal Malaysian Polo Association (RMPA) and president of the Royal Pahang Polo Club (RPPC).

Hata, who has known Sultan Abdullah for more than 40 years, said that, personally, His Majesty is a man of principle, strict and well-mannered.

He is also a good friend and open to all views, criticisms and differing opinions, he said.

 -- BERNAMA