Now Reading: Bhullar backs India to end Asian Games golf gold drought in 2026
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Bhullar backs India to end Asian Games golf gold drought in 2026
Veteran Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar says India has a realistic chance of winning gold in men’s and women’s golf at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, ending a drought since 2002. The…
The Story in Brief
Veteran Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar says India has a realistic chance of winning gold in men’s and women’s golf at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, ending a drought since 2002. The women’s team features silver medallist Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar, and Pranavi Urs; the men’s team includes Yuvraj Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat, and Saptak Talwar. Bhullar cautioned that South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and China are strong contenders.
Bhullar spoke at the launch of the Chennai Lions for the Indian Golf Premier League, a ten-team franchise competition. IGPL officials highlighted the ‘Golf on Wheels’ initiative to make the sport accessible by setting up academies and affordable courses. IGPL’s golf architect Aashish Vaishnava said poor infrastructure has stalled golf’s growth in India, and talks with the government for land acquisition are underway.
The Indian Opinion
Gaganjeet Bhullar’s optimism about India’s golf prospects at the 2026 Asian Games is welcome, but the narrative of a ‘young and vibrant’ team masking a 24-year gold drought needs scrutiny. Aditi Ashok’s silver and a strong women’s lineup are genuine hopes, yet the men’s trio lacks similar pedigree. South Korea and Japan remain formidable. Instead of cheerleading, the real test is whether grassroots initiatives like the IGPL’s ‘Golf on Wheels’ can fix the infrastructure gap, land acquisition and affordable courses, that Bhullar’s peers admit is the root cause. Will the government fast-track land for courses, as IGPL claims to seek? That answer will decide if golf’s rise is real or rhetorical.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
