Gaganjeet Bhullar honoured with Arjuna Award

August 23, 2013: Gaganjeet Bhullar, one of India’s leading professional golfers and winner of five international titles, has been honoured with the prestigious Arjuna Award. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, on Thursday, August 22, 2013.

Bhullar now becomes the 17th golfer and the eighth Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) member to be conferred with the Arjuna Award, the nation’s second highest sporting honour.

PGTI members who have won the Arjuna Award in the past include Ali Sher (1991), Amit Luthra (1996), Harmeet Kahlon (1997), Jeev Milkha Singh (1999), Shiv Kapur (2002), Jyoti Randhawa (2004) and Arjun Atwal (2007).

Gaganjeet joins the illustrious list of Arjuna Award recipients as a result of his extraordinary performances at the international stage since turning professional in 2006. The strapping six-footer from Kapurthala, Punjab, who is known for his booming drives, has bagged 14 professional titles in the past seven years. Bhullar, one of only seven Indians to appear in a Major championship, has won four titles on the Asian Tour to emerge as a major force in Asian golf. The 25-year-old also has a title to his credit on the European Challenge Tour.

Bhullar, elated on his inclusion in the Arjuna Awardees list, said, “It is a very proud moment for me and my family. I would like to thank the Government of India for acknowledging the fact that Indian golfers are making the country proud with their performances at the international level. This is a result of the hard work I have put in over the years and the strong support I have received from my family. This award will not only motivate me to achieve greater things but will also encourage many other young golfers in the country to work harder and succeed at the highest level.”

“I’ve been on top of my game over the last one year as I have focused hard and given my hundred per cent. I now aim to win my first event on the European Tour,” added Bhullar, whose ultimate ambition is to play on the PGA Tour in the United States.

Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “We at the PGTI extend our heartiest congratulations to Gaganjeet Bhullar for being conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award. Gaganjeet’s hard work and dedication over the last few years have been exemplary, and this award is very well deserved and a true recognition of his achievements. Professional Golf Tour of India, a body of the players, by the players and for the players, is happy that our efforts in creating the right opportunities in India for talented professional golfers is helping them excel at the highly competitive International tournaments across the globe. We wish Gaganjeet the very best for the future.”

Bhullar has achieved many milestones along the way in his journey to the pinnacle of Indian golf.

Gaganjeet comes from a sporting family as his father H S Bhullar had also represented India in Athletics. He picked up the sport from his father at the tender age of four and spent his formative years honing his golfing skills at the Railway Coach Factory Golf Course in his native Kapurthala.

Bhullar went on to become India’s leading amateur from 2004 to 2006. He also claimed a silver medal in the team event at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

The supremely talented golfer posted his first professional win during the 2009 PGTI season after coming agonizingly close to victory on several occasions. He bagged five titles on the trot during an outstanding 2009 season.

The 2009 season also saw him qualify for his maiden Major championship, the British Open.

Bhullar bagged his first international title the same year with success at the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational on the Asian Tour. Gaganjeet’s second title triumph on the Asian Tour was at the Asian Tour International in 2010.

Gaganjeet’s victory at the Gujarat Kensville Challenge 2011 made him the first Indian to win a title on the European Challenge Tour. His tied ninth finish at the Czech Open 2011 was his first top-10 in Europe.

The golfer from Punjab capped a memorable 2012 season on the Asian Tour with victories at the Yeangder Tournament Players’ Championship in Taipei and the Venetian Macau Open. Both victories came during a hot six-week streak which also included a runner-up finish at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in Malaysia. He was joint runner at the Panasonic Open India and enjoyed five other top-10s to end the year in a career-best fifth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Bhullar is currently placed second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit thanks to a runner-up finish at the Avantha Masters 2013, a European Tour co-sanctioned event.

Gaganjeet now leads the way for the next generation of Indian golfers with his exceptional performances at the international level.

Bhullar will receive the Arjuna Award from the President of India in a ceremony conducted at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on August 31st this year.