HPRC Tigers, Artists set up final clash with unbeaten pool campaigns

Hyderabad: HPRC Tigers and HPRC Artists completed unbeaten pool campaigns on Saturday evening to set up a final clash in the HPRC Arena Polo Tournament 2026, presented by Inhabit – The Inside Story, at the HPRC Arena on Sunday.

With Friday’s matches washed out due to rain, all four remaining pool matches were played on Saturday. Each match was shortened to two chukkers of five minutes apiece, with play beginning at 6 p.m. and continuing until after 8 p.m. under lights.

Saif Attari, who had scored all seven of the Warriors’ goals on the opening night against Chargers, once again led his side’s attack. The teams were locked at 1-1 after the first chukker, with Attari and Siddharth Mukerjee trading goals. Warriors dominated the second chukker 2-0, with Attari scoring twice more to register a win and keep their Pool A hopes alive.

Devils and Titans played out a thrilling 5-5 draw in the evening’s most closely contested match. Shahbaz scored twice in each chukker for Devils, while Arun Jupally did the same for Titans. Sri and Naresh added a goal apiece in the first chukker, which ended 3-3, before the teams scored two goals each in the second to finish level at 5-5. Under the tournament’s extra-time rules, the two teams shared the points, leaving Pool B to be decided by the final match of the evening.

Top scorers: Shahbaz (Devils) and Arun Jupally (Titans) scored four goals each. Both found the target twice in each chukker in an evenly contested encounter.

Tigers registered a 4-2 victory over Chargers, with Chaitania Kumar scoring twice in each chukker. Tigers won both periods 2-1 to secure Pool A and book their place in the final.

Siddharth Mukerjee scored both of Chargers’ goals, taking his tally to three for the evening, as Chargers finished the pool stage without a win despite putting up competitive performances in both matches.

In the other Pool B encounter, Artists defeated Titans 9-6 to secure their place in the final.

Artists needed a victory to claim Pool B outright and duly delivered, although Titans made them work for it. Arun Jupally scored three goals in each chukker, taking his tally to six in the match and 10 for the evening. However, Artists had contributions from across the team, with Shehzad Khan scoring four goals, Arsalan Khan three and Vedanth Lohia two.

Artists edged the first chukker 4-3 and the second 5-3 to complete the pool stage with two wins from two matches.