Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 15: Two days Golf Championship at Golf Course, Sidhra concluded today.
On the occasion, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah was the chief guest.
About 200 Golfers from all over the country including 45 from Kashmir participated in the tournament and exhibited their talent.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that Jammu will be promoted as a major golfing destination in coming days adding that Golf Course Sidhra is being developed as one of the world’s finest Golf Courses.
He appreciated the Tourism Department and J&K Golf Association for organizing the tournament and urged for organizing such events on regular basis. “In fact Golf Tournaments in Jammu need to be organized at every weekend”, the Minister said adding that this will not only popularize the golf game but will make Jammu as a great golfing destination.
He said about one crore pilgrims visit Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine annually which includes many golfers who could be diverted to stay at Jammu for playing golf game. He asked the Tourism Department to explore all possibilities in this regard adding that both Central and State Governments would provide all logistic support for the purpose.
The tournament was organized in three categories including senior golfers, juniors and children.
Dr Farooq also gave away trophies among the winners of the tournament.
Secretary Tourism, Zaffar Ahmad, Director Tourism, Jammu, Soujanya Sharma, Managing Director, J&K Tourism Development Corporation, Shamim Ahmad and large number of golf lovers were present on the occasion.
In Gross category, Sanjeev Singh, Raghav Wahi and Naseer Kachroo emerged winners, whereas in Net category, khurshid Budoo, Opinder Singh and Riaz Fazali claimed first, second and third positions respectively. In Longest Drive, Pranav Kohli claimed first rank, whereas second rank was bagged by Siddarth Bhatia.
In Ladies Putting, Deepali Handa, Ritu Beri and Kavita Anand secured first, second and third ranks respectively, whereas in Nearest to Pin category, Alok Kumar and Abhimanyu Beri secured first and second positions respectively.