Audemars Piguet champions again

Heavy downpour played havoc, forcing the final to be a penalty shoot-out affair.

A large crowd converged on the Somdej Phra Sri Suriyothai Military Camp here yesterday to watch the showdown. However, they ran for cover when rains came down heavily. The organisers delayed the final for more than an hour. And when the rain stopped, a sudden-death shoot out was called to determine the winners. Audemars Piguet's Angaad and Uday Kalaan and rock solid captain Peter Prentice proved too much for King Power International, just as it had been for all the other teams.

Out of the three penalty shots, King Power could score only two. Audemars Piguet players, the Kalaan brothers, scored from the penalty spot and it was left to Prentice to place the winning shot, which he did with ease.

The tournament ended with a prize-awarding ceremony, canapes, and plenty of Penfolds as the sun finally came out. The exciting weeklong event has not only been about fun and games but also raising money for charities. Bt3.1 million was raised at the Anantara Hua Hin gala dinner which hosted a gathering of top dignitaries and well known celebrities.

Every elephant that participated in the King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament has a unique microchip and was not taken from the wild.

Each elephant only plays two games a day and a total of 28 minutes while elephants on the streets work 10 hours a night and elephants in trekking camp five hours a day.

Each elephant receives a veterinary check before it is declared fit to play. Those that fail get prescribed rest.