Gaganjeet Bhullar confident ahead of Louis Philippe Cup

Anand Datla

May 30, 2016: Gaganjeet Bhullar is leading the NSports Hyderabad team in the inter-city Louis Philippe Cup this week. He will have Ajeetesh Sandhu and Om Prakash Chouhan for company and the troika will hunt for success in Rs. 1.2 crore PGTI event.

Bhullar is working hard to regain his touch and form, still finding his way back from the wrist injury that derailed him in 2014. The 28 year old retired from the Hero Indian Open and missed the cut at the next two events, but is optimistic about a quick return to form.

Bhullar was touted as the biggest talent in India and he proved his mettle by breaking into the top 100 on the OWGR. Unfortunately though injuries waylaid his progress and Bhullar has been battling since to perform well and regain the European Tour card he surrendered during his lean patch.

Even as Bhullar is preparing to lead his team in Bengaluru this week, his mind is also occupied with thoughts of Rio 2016. The young golfer tasted success in national colours when he won Silver in the 2006 Asian games, but will miss the flight to Brazil.

“I can’t express how happy I am for Anirban. He has played some terrific golf in the past few years and I have the privilege of starting my golfing career around the same time as him,” Bhullar told Times of India recently. “We are unable to connect so much with the time difference etc. But he is a dear friend and we have shared rooms while playing on the Asian Tour.”

“In individual strokeplay anybody who plays good golf has a chance. Knowing the form Anirban and SSP have been recently, hopes are definitely high,” added Bhullar. “These guys have in them to win a medal at Rio.”

Back to his own game – “It was a struggle in the last two years but things have got back to normal now. The timing of the injury was really bad as I was thinking of qualifying for Olympics,” admitted Bhullar. “But everything happens for a reason. The wrist is feeling much better but to get it to this level I had to undergo numerous physiotherapy sessions both in Chandigarh and overseas plus gym work and stretching exercises to get tendons and muscles stronger. My first target is to do well in co-sanctioned events and then try and get back my European card.”

On the Louis Philippe Cup and the chances of his own team, Bhullar said, “Ajeetesh is playing some hot golf and OP is in good form so I am very excited to be leading the team. With two out of three scores being considered the team tally, every franchise gets a lot of chance to make a comeback in the tournament. We should have more such tournaments as it gets the fans excited and that’s what you need to popularise the game.”