President of PGTI, Mr. Kapil Dev Addressing Media Ahead of J&K Open 2024 (Credit: PGTI)

 

 

4moles.com had the privilege of attending the press conference of the highly anticipated J&K Open 2024, hosted by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). The event was graced by a distinguished panel of key figures:

 

Mr. Vivekanand Rai, Director of Tourism – Jammu

Mr. Manav Gupta, Secretary, Jammu Tawi Golf Course

Mr. Kapil Dev, President, PGTI

Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI

Mr. Abhinav Lohan, Professional Golfer

Mr. Sarthak Chhibber, Professional Golfer

 

Our sports journalist from 4moles.com asked Mr. Kapil Dev a crucial question regarding the future of professional golf events in Jammu and Kashmir, in light of the strong support from the region's new Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah, and his father, Mr. Farooq Abdullah—a passionate golfer and long-time advocate of the sport. Mr. Kapil Dev confirmed that PGTI plans to approach the Abdullahs with proposals for more grand-scale tournaments with larger prize pools. Adding to this, CEO Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy recalled that the 2014 edition of the J&K Open, held under Farooq Abdullah's guidance, featured the largest prize pool compared to the other editions.

 

Our Sports Journalist Mr. Aksh Gupta asking Question To Mr. Kapil Dev (Credit: PGTI)

 

The J&K Open 2024 will take place from October 23-26 at the picturesque Jammu Tawi Golf Course, a challenging 18-hole course designed by renowned architect Col. K.D. Bagga. With stunning fairways stretching approximately 6,600 meters, the course is dotted with water bodies, including a 3,200-meter-long channel, creating a visually breathtaking and demanding course for golfers.

 

The field will feature some of India’s top professional golfers, including Angad Cheema, Shaurya Binu, Abhinav Lohan, Olympian Udayan Mane, and Sarthak Chhibber. With a prize purse of INR 50 lakh, this event promises to deliver high-stakes competition.

 

The Pro-Am event, set for October 27, will allow corporate guests and amateur golfers to team up with professional golfers, offering a unique opportunity to play alongside the best. The panelists also highlighted the need for stronger corporate sponsorship to ensure financial backing for professional golfers, paving the way for bigger events in the future.

 

The J&K Open 2024 is set to become a key milestone in elevating golf in Jammu and Kashmir to new heights.

 

 

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