Congratulations to GIS alumnus Imran Moiz, Class of ’23 and his team, Moiz Boys on their recent success in the Malaysia Youth Polo Tournament held on the 24th of August at the Selangor Polo Club! Moiz Boys, which comprises Imran himself along with three of his siblings Arman, Suleiman, and Ashman showed determination and fought hard in a dramatic win over their opponent International All Stars with a score of 6 – 5.
This year’s tournament was jointly organised by the Kuala Lumpur Academy of Polo (KLAP) and the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM).
“It was a hard-fought match, we were leading 6-3 at one point and thought we had it (won) but we let our lead slip. As the eldest brother in the team, I brought the boys together and told them that it is just a matter of how much we want to win it, we have to show character and have a good attitude. It has been an amazing experience and also an amazing tournament which has brought together players from around the world while also helping raise cancer awareness,” said Imran in an interview after the tournament.
Join us as our 2019 Manila SEA Games athlete, Imran reflects on Moiz Boys’ recent victory and his time at Garden International School.
Talk us through your preparation for the Malaysia Polo Youth Tournament.
When it comes to preparation, my main focus is to always practise consistency. Regardless of the size of the tournament or the strength of the opposition, I try to maintain the same preparation process and state of mind – consistent training (of myself and my horses) as well as instilling a tenacious attitude before all my tournaments.
As a team and being family at the same time, how do you and your brothers manage professionalism and personal life when training?
As the eldest of us 4 (in the team), it sometimes gets tricky balancing the ‘older brother’ and ‘team captain’ roles. Oftentimes my approach as an older brother can be very firm and direct, but at times this isn’t as effective once we’ve entered the field. As in any situation, being positive and constructive is very important, more so when playing with my younger brothers as this approach yields the best results from the team as a whole.
How did your experiences in GIS influence your academic and professional journey?
I always look back at my time in GIS very fondly. If I had to choose something that continues to influence me is the drive for success. I credit this to the teachers and supporting staff that surrounded me throughout my experience at GIS. I often received the constructive criticism of being capable yet lacking the aspiration of excelling. In retrospect, I myself believe that to be very true. While I may lack the application of this principle in many things, when it comes to polo, a game is never won or lost until the final whistle.
What was your overall experience at GIS like?
Out of my 11 siblings, I was the 4th to join GIS. As previously mentioned, the memories that I made there are ones that I will cherish for many years. Through the work of teachers and those at the school, I’ve always felt as though the environment in GIS was tailored to foster students of adept academic and athletic ability. I was always able to achieve a balance between my sports and my studies which I still continue to do throughout my university life.
What is your message to our current GIS Dragons who share the same aspirations to become athletes in the future?
Stay patient, stay consistent, and keep believing in yourself even when it’s tough. Your journey is unique, and what matters most is your effort and attitude. Set your goals high, but more importantly, focus on the steps you take each day. Talent is useless without hard work, focus, and resilience – these elements will take you even further!
Thank you, Imran, for taking the time to share your experiences with us.
If you would like to be featured, get in touch with us at alumni@gardenschool.edu.my.
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