Nov 11, 2016: The Hero Women’s Indian Open saw two Pro-Am competitions this week with the golfing community in Delhi relishing their chance at glory. A smattering of eminent personalities like ex-cricketer Ajit Agarkar, cricketer and television analyst Nikhil Chopra and Hero Motocorp Chairman, Pawan Munjal were in the field. Ajit played as an amateur with professional golfer Carly Booth in the Pro-Am match right before the actual tournament begins.
Catching up with him at the ninth tee of the scenic Gary Player course in the DLF Golf and Country Club, we asked him about his experience. “It is a great experience, I am playing for the first time on this course and it is fantastic. Hopefully, the next nine holes will be good,” Ajit told Golfing Indian.
The former medium pacer, who has played in over 200 international games in his cricket career before announcing retirement in 2013, praised his teammate and pro Carly saying she is “brilliant”
He added, “Just looking at their swings, you learn a lot. I am really enjoying this opportunity to understand how they approach the golf courses. It is so different compared to us normal players so there is a lot to learn in golf.”
Although he started just a year back, the Ranji trophy winner won the India Finals of BMR World Corporate Golf Challenge which happened at Bengaluru’s Prestige Golfshire. He seems confident of golf having a larger audience in the future.
“Coming from Mumbai, I already see a lot of kids attracted to the game. There is a lot more done in Mumbai that brings kids to the golf and that’s what we want as it is a fantastic game.”
He wished Aditi Ashok luck before the HWIO tournament and hopes, “she is the next Indian Open champion. She has done really well as we have all followed her game. I wish her really well for the rest of the season.”
The promising amateur in golf, Ajit, has picked up the sport quickly after a rocky start. Agarkar is now in excellent company too, with men like Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Nikhil Chopra, Virat Kohli and many others with whom he can discuss golf instead of cricket.
Poorvi Gupta
