A Polo King

HRH Prince Abdullah Ahmad Shah succeeded his father and was crowned Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the sixth Sultan of Pahang on 15th January 2019.  Today, the Conference of Rulers elected Sultan Abdullah as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.

It has been a whirlwind nine days for our HRH.  If anyone can handle it, I know HRH Tuanku Sultan can.

A consummate polo player, HRH Tuanku Sultan has played since he was a teenager.  He rose to a high of 4 goals in handicap.  In 1983 he won a SEA Games polo gold medal, playing in Singapore with Malaysia’s first unbeaten SEA Games Polo team, with his brother HRH Tengku Muda Pahang, Tengku Abdul Rahman, HH Tengku Asmawi and Nordin Majid.

His fearsome Royal Pahang teams competed in tournaments all over the world, including in the English Queen’s and Gold Cups, and the Argentine Open.

HRH Tuanku Sultan also started the Pahang Classic series in the early 90’s showcasing top level polo in Malaysia.  At its highest, the Pahang Classic was a 30-goal tournament that featured the best players in the world.

As president of the Royal Malaysian Polo Association for the last three decades, HRH Tuanku Sultan was the ultimate sportsman, fair, and disciplined.  From his years of also running the Football Association of Malaysia and the Malaysian Hockey Association, he understood sports associations and how to run them.

During his Presidency, Tuanku Sultan transformed RMPA into a financially successful association that is respected the world over.

Tuanku Sultan, with Dato’ Mohamed Moiz, Dato’ Brian Miller and myself, created the RMPA Polo Leagues in 2005. That it is still running today is testimony to his far-sightedness, and steadfast support of the league.

The 2011 FIP World Cup playoffs was a triumphant return to the FIP family and remains the most successful World Cup qualifier ever held.

HRH Tuanku Sultan handed his duties as President to Dato’ Mohamed Moiz in 2017, soon after he became Regent of Pahang.

The last match played by HRH Tuanku Sultan was in a Merdeka League game in 2016, when he played with three of his sons, HRH Tengku Hassanal, HRH Tengku Muhammad and HRH Tengku Amir.

While he does not play tournaments any more, HRH Tuanku Sultan is still a big supporter of polo. He attended a polo match at September’s RMPA International League Final at the Royal Selangor Polo Club, watching his sons, HRH Crown Prince Hassanal and HRH Prince Muhammad play in the 14-goal tournament.

To have him become the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a true boost for polo in Malaysia.  From the Game of Kings we now have a King.

Highest congratulations to KDYMM Sultan Abdullah.