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This Spotlight is sponsored by The Royal Johor Polo Club.
If you've never watched polo before, Johor is about to give you a pretty good reason to check it out.
The Royal Johor Polo Club will host the Johor Super Crown Polo Tournament 2026 (JSCPT) from 1 to 6 September, bringing five international elite teams to compete in a 22-goal tournament, the biggest and highest-handicap polo tournament Malaysia has seen.
Held under the banner "Legacy In Motion", the tournament aims to build on Johor's long association with polo while putting the state on the map as a destination for international sporting and luxury tourism.
The tournament will take place at the Royal Polo Grounds at Istana Pasir Pelangi, Johor Bahru.
But what exactly does "22-goal" mean?
In polo, each player is given a handicap based on their playing ability, and the four players' handicaps are added together to determine a team's overall rating. So, a 22-goal tournament means each four-player team has a combined handicap of 22 goals.
Basically, the higher the number, the more elite the level of competition.
And JSCPT 2026 is bringing in some seriously experienced players. Among those expected to compete are Argentine polo stars and Argentine Open champions Juan Martín Nero, Pablo Mac Donough, Gonzalo Pieres Jr and Pablo "Polito" Pieres.
The Argentine Open is one of the biggest tournaments in professional polo, so having multiple champions in Johor makes this a pretty big deal for the polo scene in Malaysia and across Asia.
One of the more unusual things about the tournament is that Johor will provide the horses for every international team
This means the teams will not simply arrive with their own horses and compete. Instead, the state will provide the full horse string needed by each team for the tournament.
The event is the brainchild of The Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, also known as PSJ.
Tunku Ismail is a 10-goal polo player himself and has won more than 50 titles worldwide, including two Metro Open championships in Argentina. The tournament also brings Tunku Ismail together with polo star Polito Pieres, with both working towards establishing Johor as a destination on the international polo circuit.
The occasion also marked the official unveiling of the Johor Super Crown Trophy
Standing at approximately 750mm tall, this striking trophy is crafted by Royal Insignia from 925 silver with a coating in 24K gold and rhodium.
Inspired by Istana Pasir Pelangi, it features the Johor Super Crown Polo emblem, crossed polo mallets, and gambir and pepper motifs, a nod to Johor's royal heritage and polo traditions.
Lapis lazuli, hand-applied blue vitreous enamel, and a crown adorned with peridot, garnet, and sapphires add to its regal finish, while horseshoe and horse bit details tie it back to the sport.
A silver plaque at the base is reserved for engraving the winners' names, making the trophy a lasting symbol of sporting achievement.
While the tournament itself, including the gala night and grand final, is by invitation only, you don't need an invite to follow the action
Polo fans or curious Malaysians who simply want to see what high-level polo looks like can watch JSCPT 2026 live and for free on the official PoloLine TV website.
The Royal Johor Polo Club, which was established more than a century ago, is one of Asia's oldest polo clubs and has long been associated with Johor's royal heritage.
With some of the world's top polo players heading to Johor, JSCPT 2026 is set to put the state's royal polo tradition in the international spotlight.
