Johor bahru: The Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, is expected to feature for the Royal Johor team in the Johor Super Crown Polo Tournament (JSCPT) 2026 at the iconic Istana Pasir Pelangi Royal Polo Ground here, on September 1.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the landmark 22-goal handicap tournament stands as the highest-handicap polo competition ever hosted in Malaysia. JSCPT is driven by a shared vision between Tunku Mahkota Ismail and world polo icon Polito Pieres, aiming to firmly establish Johor as a premier destination on the international luxury sports circuit.
Royal Johor Polo Club representative David Keyte said preparations were running smoothly, with approximately 190 top-tier horses prepared for the tournament. "All the horses are supplied by the Royal Johor Polo Club, and some of the players have already arrived and begun training with the horses," he said during a press conference at Istana Pasir Pelangi.
Keyte added that the tournament, to be held from September 1 to September 6, would bring together five world-class teams featuring elite global talent, namely Royal Johor, Temasek, Korea Polo, JCORP, and Digital Bridge. "These teams are multinational, with many different countries represented, including Argentina, South Africa, America, New Zealand, India, and South Korea," he said.
He stated that the tournament was set to showcase outstanding sportsmanship and top-tier polo action across all matches. He also emphasized that continuous efforts by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and the Regent of Johor to upgrade the polo fields and stable infrastructure had elevated the venue's facilities to world-class standards, enabling it to host premier polo competitions.
The event will be broadcast live globally via PoloLine.TV, bringing the spectacle of Royal Johor to an international audience. Meanwhile, Royal Johor team player Pieres said he had completed his preparations and hopes for good weather throughout the matches. "Rain is one of the main challenges, but it is something beyond our control. We hope the current forecast holds, but as you know, the weather is never predictable. So, we will have to adapt," he said.
However, Pieres noted that his familiarity with the local fields and horses used would serve as an added advantage for his team. Meanwhile, Temasek player Nachi Du Plessis described the upcoming matches as a thrilling prospect, given the high calibre of international talent assembled. He added that one of the most critical elements in polo was the horses, noting that His Royal Highness had brought in top-quality steeds, which indirectly elevated the overall standard and quality of the tournament.
The JSCPT is the brainchild of The Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, who is also a 10-goal polo player and has won more than 50 titles worldwide, including two Metro Open championships in Argentina.