The inaugural Johor Super Crown Polo Tournament (JSCPT) has come to a close with a decisive victory for Royal Johor, which defeated Temasek 10–7 in the final at the Royal Polo Grounds, Istana Pasir Pelangi.
Played under the theme Legacy in Motion, the tournament marked Malaysia’s largest and highest-handicap polo event to date, bringing together five invitation-only teams and 190 horses for a week of high-goal competition.
A Royal Performance
The final belonged to His Royal Highness Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Regent of Johor, who delivered six goals in the sixth chukka to secure Royal Johor’s first JSCPT title.
Playing despite a hand injury, HRH Tunku Mahkota Ismail was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for his performance and sportsmanship throughout the 22-goal competition. Teammate Pablo “Polito” Pieres added three goals to Royal Johor’s winning total.
The honours continued with Poliya Cara Pálida, HRH Tunku Mahkota Ismail’s horse, receiving the Best Playing Pony award. Temasek finished as runner-up, with Korea Polo taking third place.
Where Heritage Meets High-Goal Polo
Beyond the competition itself, JSCPT was conceived as a meeting point between Johor’s royal polo heritage and the international standard of contemporary high-goal sport.
The tournament brought together elite players and horses against the backdrop of Istana Pasir Pelangi, reinforcing Johor’s credentials as a destination for polo and luxury sports tourism.
That sense of heritage extended to the championship trophy, created by Royal Insignia. Crafted from fine silver, 24-karat gold and rhodium, with lapis lazuli and gemstones, the trophy incorporates motifs inspired by Johor’s royal and polo traditions.
A New Chapter For Johor
The closing ceremony, officiated by Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor, brought the tournament to a close with performances by the Johor Military Force brass band, the Royal Malaysia Police and the Johor Heritage Foundation.
The result is an event positioned to be about more than sport. By combining international polo, royal tradition and cultural exchange, the Johor Super Crown Polo Tournament offers a distinctive platform through which the state can build its profile as a luxury sports destination.
With its inaugural champions now established, Legacy in Motion has proved an apt theme: the tournament draws on Johor’s longstanding relationship with polo while giving that heritage a contemporary, international stage.
