Augus t- A Triple AAA rated Golf month for Indian Golf: AUGUST, ANIRBAN & ADITI – certainly a triple “AAA” month that even Fitch & Moody might find difficult to argue against. The month of August has seen several milestones for Indian golf – the T5 finish of Anirban and an amateur victory for Aditi have soothed the souls of golf fans in India. In forty years of golf that I have personally witness, perhaps the first time ever that a male & female have brought global attention to the nation in the same week. A glorious top 5 finish in the PGA championship for Anirban in the US & junior female golfer Aditi Ashok for taking the top honours at the Ladies British Amateur Championship- a deserving high five to both! It was a distant dream for golfers of my generation to reach either the PGA or an event like the Ladies British Amateur Championship.
Leave aside getting equitable status at male dominated golfing facilities; we struggled at airports to make customs officials understand the relevance of owning golf equipment without being levied duties. There was a strange negativity towards development of golf because it was not a game that was even understood.
Both Anirban & Aditi have undoubtedly given a huge boost to India’s golfing image with their series of world class performances. Our two Bangaloreans have raised the bar for golfers across India. An inspirational challenge awaits young Indian golfers from these two world class champions. A glitzy dinner followed by a pink champagne toast by Chairman MD&CEO of HeroMoto Corp Pawan Munjal impeccably styled for the worthy performance of Anirban was the icing on the cake.
For young Aditi it was travel across to Taiwan to the Asia-Pacific Junior Championship post her British Amateur ladies Stroke play title. For Aditi celebrations are yet to begin. No stopping here, with Rio Olympics in less than a year the duo has hectic schedules to follow in the next 12 months. Many more months of hard work- Let us dream about watching the Indian tri colour being unfurled with a podium finish in golf.
Champika N Sayal
Secretary General of Women’s Golf Association of India
- In this article
- aditi ashok
- anirban lahiri
- golfers from bangalore
- women golfers
