Muristek
New Delhi, April 18
Even as defending champion Udayan Mane and Yuvraj Sandhu appeared for the customary press conference for the Delhi-NCR Open, their minds were already focused on the trials for the Asian Games.
For the first time, professional golfers have been allowed to take part in the Asian Games following their entry at the Tokyo Olympics. As per the rules, the top-two ranked golfers from a country get direct entry. Anirban Lahiri and Subhankar Sharma — ranked 85 and 168 on the Official World Golf Rankings — have already qualified.
The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has sent correspondence to 10 golfers, apart from Lahiri and Sharma, to attend the trials, PGTI CEO Uttam Singh Mundy said. The trials will be held in Bengaluru next week.
Chandigarh's Sandhu, who won his third title of the year at the PGTI Players Championships last week, is looking forward to the challenge.
"I am going to treat the Asian Games trials like a normal tournament. I am playing well, I am in good form. Being an army boy, I always want to represent India. I would love to have the Indian flag on my chest," Sandhu said. "Professional golf is an individual sport but the feeling that you get playing for the flag is something great. I am looking forward to the Asian Games. If I play at the Asian Games, I will go all out for gold," he added.
Sandhu plans to play on the Asian Tour, including an event in England in June. He will also take part in the Q School events as well as the Monday Qualifiers in July.
The Delhi-NCR Open, to be held at the Noida Golf Club, will feature top professionals like Rashid Khan, Khalin Joshi, Honey Baisoya. The foreign challenge will be led by Mithun Perera, N Thangaraja and Anura Rohana.