The 14-year-old son of a crack who created a crack in the sport in which Argentines are the best in the world

10/15/2020 7:36 PM

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 10/15/2020 7:36 PM

While waiting for the approval of the authorities to start the Triple Crown, the

decided on Wednesday to raise the valuation of

just 14 years old, from 4 to 6 goals.

Thus, the son of the owner and captain of La Dolfina was legally authorized to play

on the national calendar.

And while some applauded the resolution, others criticized it and called it

.

La Dolfina, last year's champion of Hurlingham and Palermo, has just suffered a significant loss for the 2020 high-handicap season.

(10 goals) underwent a successful operation on Wednesday morning for a double fracture of the wrist and the left clavicle, and much of the Triple Crown would be lost.

In the best of scenarios, it is expected that he will recover in time to play a game at the Argentine Open.

Thus, Cañuelas' team was faced with the need to find a replacement and

appeared as one of the candidates.

The problem was that the 14-year-old player had only 4 handicap strokes and the minimum required by regulation to play Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo is 6. That is why his father filed a request with the AAP to raise his assessment and the Commission Board of Directors of the Association approved it.

Aolfo Cambiaso embraces his son Poroto, after becoming champions of the Gold Cup of the British Open.

Instagram photo @ adolfocambiaso1

Generally, the AAP establishes handicap increases and decreases based on the performance of polo players in local tournaments.

This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, there was still no polo in Argentina.

But the body chaired by

justified

rise

with the great performance he had in the seasons in the United States, before the stop by Covid-19, and England, where he was crowned champion of the British Open and broke the record of his dad by becoming the youngest to conquer it.

The AAP explained in a statement that Article 9 of Chapter 1 of its Technical Regulations establishes that "in an emergency, the Board of Directors may modify the players' handicap at any time without a proposal or report from the General Handicap Subcommittee" .

Novillo Astrada said in statements to

: "This arose from an emergency, and it seemed like a good thing in a difficult year for polo. It was a request from La Dolfina so that he could play in the Argentine Open because of what happened to Nero. It is giving good news among the bad news, good news for sponsors, communication and entertainment.

was seen playing in the United States and in England, where they also raised him to 6 ".

Next Generation, with Adolfo Cambiaso, his son Poroto and Diego Cavanagh, champion in England in July this year.

Instagram photo @pololineok

And he added: "We believe that with this La Dolfina does not gain an advantage because he does not play with a better polo player or an undervalued one. Poroto is playing that handicap or lacks a little. The change is not for the sporting but for the extra sport: it will add for the sponsors, for the people ".

Despite the change, Adolfo Sr. assured that it is still not certain that his son will replace Nero in the quartet that will contest the Triple Crown.

The news generated mixed reactions in the polo world and criticism from some players from other teams, especially at the time the decision was made.

Gonzalo Pieres (h), 

for his part, said: "It seems very bad and very strange to me what the AAP does. They did not raise it in the big season so that it can play in England. We are professionals and we live from polo. They hurt to many teams, players and bosses who work and invest a lot, and now they raise it. "

The Ellerstina player referred to the decision made by the AAP at the end of last year not to raise

handicap

, despite his great performance in the season, in which he won the San Jorge Open with his father, so I could play the English season.

La Dolfina, with Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, champion of the San Jorge Open 2019. Photo Matias Callejo / AAP

, player of the new

team,

had a similar reasoning

: "If it's within the rules, that's fine. The controversy for me happens because they didn't raise it in December. But the truth is that

plays 6 for The least. I find it incredible how he plays. "

Meanwhile,

, from

, said: "I think raising

to 6 goals is a wise decision. He seems like a total crack because of his age and the level at which he is playing. Besides, I don't see any reason to prevent that rise, since he showed all over the world during the year what he plays. It is good for polo and the Triple Crown, if he gets to play it. "

Possible Triple Crown dates

With the health protocol presented and approved by word of mouth by the health authorities, only the official authorization of the national and local governments is missing for the Triple Crown of Argentine polo to be launched.

If the Municipality of Pilar gives the green light, the Tortugas Open will start on Saturday 24th and will end on October 31st.

That first tournament will be played without an audience, without an accredited press -except for the official one of the event- and with several prevention rules that polo players and all team members must respect. 

Hurlingham would be played from November 3 to 21 and Palermo, the most important event of the season, from November 28 to December 19.

FK