Neeraj Sareen: Anirban Lahiri has the natural talent to excel at the highest level

Interview by Anand Datla

August 25, 2015: As the country celebrates the recent successes of Anirban Lahiri, it is important to remember that the golfer’s team deserves some of the credit for those performances. We are all aware of the important role played by Ipsa Lahiri, Anirban’s wife and confidant. What is perhaps not so well known is the behind the scenes role played by Neeraj Sareen, who manages the professional affairs of the Indian golfer.

In this exclusive conversation, Golfing Indian caught up with Neeraj and elicited his views on the golfer and his career.

GI: What has the PGA Championship finish meant for Anirban Lahiri?

Neeraj Sareen: I think anirban has been one person that has always had the natural talent to excel at the highest level. To finally see him perform well on the world stage and fight it out against the best in the world has given him a tremendous amount of self belief and motivation. He has got a big boost to his confidence, and everything in the last 9 months has happened at a rapid pace without anytime to really think about what he has achieved.

GI: What has this done to his potential with sponsors?

NS: Of course, as one knows, worldwide it has been a slow time for the economy and corporate sponsors. However, one thing that this performance has done for him has been to once again open up the market for whatever existing sponsors are investing in golf. I have had some very good discussions since the PGA Championship with some of the sponsors we were speaking with over the last few months and hope to close in on them with time. Interest level has grown from a brand Lahiri perspective and one wants to associate with him and of course partner him in his future.

GI: What kind of brands are associating with him?

NS: Hero has backed him from the day he turned pro. We can’t than thank them enough. We had a wonderful felicitation evening hosted by Hero last night in Delhi. He recently signed on with Chervo clothing and is now in the contractual stages with a major watch company that invests heavily in golf. Srixon has supported him for years as his equipment company and we hope that the relationship continues over the next few years. But it’s a small market and of course we are open to speaking with others when the time is right.

GI: How do you see Lahiri’s progression here on from playing in the region to playing more in America?

NS: I have been very cautious about how he develops as a player. I had given him some personal goals and take baby steps on to the bigger stage. It is very easy to get to the top but sometimes you get to it too quick and then come tumbling down. There have been times that there have been many players we hear of that made it big and then we never hear from them again.
I had told him that once he wins in India, then go to Asia, then when he wins on the Asian Tour, move on to the next level. I didn’t want him to go to Europe too quick without him winning outside of India and on Asian Soil.
Similarly, the quick progress to the European and PGA Tour this year is something we had to be careful about and make sure that he is ready. It took him a few months to adjust but I finally feel his game is there and ready to go.

GI: As a manager to many golfers in India what sets Lahiri apart according to you?

NS: I think there are a lot of common traits between Shiv and Anirban on the golf course. they both are solid from tee to green. they both have tremendous amount of self belief and love the big stage. I, of course speak on their behalf as I see there games week in and week out. For me the biggest asset Anirban has got is his temperament and calmness on the golf course.

GI: Lahiri has already mentioned his desire to be the one bringing change to Indian golf. Could you please share how is that goal working out for him now?

NS: He wants to setup and build his own foundation when the time is right towards development of golf. He feels there is massive potential for this sport to grow and wants to work with people through his foundation so that he can make sure he fulfills his desire to bring more and more younger players competing at a world stage.

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