What’s On has details of a UAE National Team taking part in the King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament. Find out how to support the Anantara Arabian Knights.

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If you thought the World Cup in Brazil was the pinnacle of sporting excellence this summer, we’ve got news for you. And this team, you’ll have someone to support.

A team from the United Arab Emirates will be heading to Bangkok in late August for the King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament, an annual charity spectacle in its 13th year, which has so far raised Dhs 2.8million.

Last year’s event welcomed 16 teams from all over the world, with the 50-odd players including Thai supermodels, professional horse polo players and even the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team.

This year will see the ‘Anantara Arabian Knights’ team line up in the field, and team captain Wael Soueid said: “Our team members come with good mallet skills developed as regular horseback polo players with the exception of our secret weapon, Amer, who has no polo background whatsoever. We are hoping that he will positively impact our handicap.

“Despite our experience as polo players, trading our trusty polo ponies for the gentle giants is a completely different game. It’s an exciting spectator sport and highly entertaining for the players as well supporting charitable causes.”

In total, fifty of Thailand’s street elephants will be used in the tournament, which each receiving plenty of rest, food, veterinary care before, during and after the event.

The money raised between August 28 and 31 will also go back into helping provide better lives for wild and domesticated elephants.

For more information on how you support the team and the cause, visit anantaraelephantpolo.com