Report by Anand Datla
August 01, 2015: Ranveer Singh Saini, India’s representative in a field of over 100 international golfers, has won Gold at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. The 14 year old from Gurgaon clinched the medal in the GF Golf-Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play event on Friday.
Saini, playing with Monica Jajoo, soared nine shots clear of the second placed teams from Hong Kong and Nippon. Tsz Leung Chung and Ka Kit Lam represented Hong Kong. Takefumi Hiyoshi and Tadatoshi Sakai bagged joint second for the Nippon team.
The teenager from India has been battling autism since he was two years old. After taking to golf at the age of nine, he made waves when he became the first Indian golfer to claim a pair of gold medals at the Asia Pacific World Games.
Ranveer took his work a step further with his accomplishment now at the World Games in LA. Anitya Chand, his coach shared how Ranveer practised before his departure. “He tripled his prep over the last three months. Monica, his partner in the tournament, had played the same course last year. ” They play at DLF which is the alternate shot format. They prepared very well for the event by simulating the conditions in Gurgaon. “Given his special needs, it’s obvious very different teaching him. He remembers just a few things but he remembers those very well. These were small but significant in his game. Check grips, check back swing.”
Anitya has been teaching for the last few years and remains impressed by his single minded determination. “I think for a special needs person like him to find his calling is tremendous and god sent. They do have a tough life. Our society isnt educated enough to accepting or accommodating enough in most cases.”
The good news comes even as Indian golf is blushing red, drenched in a wave of good tidings that are sweeping ashore in recent times.
Shubham Naglan and Aadil Bedi did India proud with their recent run of good performances in the US to underline the strength of junior golf in India. The former won back to back titles against a strong field of junior internationals from across the globe.
Aditi Ashok shocked her seasoned competition when she pulled off a sensational 64 in the final round of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour event at the KGA a few weeks back. Gurbani Singh and Aditi proved amateurs are ready to challenge the senior pros by winning a title each on the WGAI Tour this season.
Anirban Lahiri made a strong finish last week, to sign off inside the top ten at the European Masters in Switzerland.
Picture Credit: IBNLive
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