Going through mundane newspaper golf reports, a smile came to my heart looking at a photograph of a young impressionable young lad holding his Silver medal at Asian Junior games held in China recently. Moments after, I picked up a call from Manu Gandas’s ecstatic father Bhadan Gandas, a sports teacher informing me of the wonderful news.
Bhadan Gandas has been a motivator to his son looking after his complete golf regime besides being a proud father of two daughters who are state level experts in Judo and Taekwondo. Bhadan Gandas thanked me profusely for having given Manu an opportunity to being a playing partner in his nascent years.
Young Manu Gandas frequented Delhi Golf Club’s starter’s desk on several occasions as a young sub junior golfer all the way from Gurgaon. At age 8 years in 2004-05 with a diminutive body frame could easily be missed whilst looking for a playing partner. Manu happily joined our group of players on several occasions. In a short span of 2 years young Manu who was 10 years old, showed great potential and was able to display his acumen with etiquette and patience far beyond his years.
Manu has been growing ever since and now a handsome young lad of 17 years. Manu has received several laurels and has been given practise facilities at the renowned DLF Golf& Country club, where he is being groomed to take his talent beyond boundaries, by his coach Anitya.
Once he became a regular player on IGU’s junior tour, it became quite obvious that Manu had the makings of a Champion displayed by his discipline and grit. A student of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Gurgaon till early 2013, Manu has excelled in time management. Shuttling between his studies and touring around the country playing amateur golf which was keenly supported by the Golf Foundation a Delhi based NGO which gives financial support to young talent. Manu’s dream is to turn Professional once he settles down with his college life and work towards a medal in future Olympics.
Champika Sayal is the Secretary General of Women’s Golf Association of India
