*Unveils 3rd Edition of PGTI Tournament, featuring Cricket Legend Kapil Dev
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 19: Aimed to wooing influx of tourists from across the world, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) have unveiled the 3rd edition of J&K Open Golf Championship here today.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government, under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, is steadfastly committed to showcase the rich tapestry of tourism offerings from the region on the global stage. The Department of Tourism, headed by Secretary Tourism, Dr. Abid Rasheed Shah announced the 3rd Edition of the J&K Open Golf Tournament, in partnership with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official governing body of professional golf in India.
The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has announced the 3rd edition of J&K Open Golf Championship to be held at the pristine Jammu Tawi Golf Course in Jammu, from October 4-8.
The 4-day tournament, whose reward has been enhanced to Rs. 50 lakh will be organized in active association with the J&K Tourism department. The Pro-Am event will be held on October 8.
The grand launch event was held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, today where Cricketing legend and Vice President of PGTI, Kapil Dev unveiled the upcoming PGTI tournament. He emphasized the tournament’s role in promoting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. He underscored the need to bolster golf tourism in this stunning region, shedding light on the incredible opportunities it offers to golf enthusiasts and travellers alike.
Manav Gupta, Secretary of Jammu Tawi Golf Course, assured that the course is fully prepared to host this prestigious event. He guaranteed the provision of the best possible playing conditions, promising an unparalleled experience for the participating golfers at JTGC.
Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of PGTI, enthusiastically stated, “The third edition of the J&K Open, presented by J&K Tourism, is one of the most eagerly anticipated tournaments of the 2023 PGTI Season. Professional golfers have cherished memories of playing at the magnificent Jammu Tawi Golf Course, having inaugurated it last year. Tournaments like these are instrumental in bolstering Golf Tourism in J&K.”
The top Indian professionals participating in the event include Udayan Mane, Rashid Khan, defending champion Yuvraj Singh Sandhu and former champion Honey Baisoya, to name a few. The foreign challenge will be led by Bangladeshis Jamal Hossain and Badal Hossain as well as Sri Lankans N Thangaraja and Mithun Perera, to name a few.
Amarjeet Singh, Special Secretary to the Government Tourism Department, shed light on the burgeoning Golf Tourism sector, emphasizing its significance in the broader tourism landscape. He provided an overview of the evolving Tourism Scenario, especially in the wake of the successful 3rd Tourism Working Group Meeting in J&K. Singh emphasized the UT Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting all the tourism products of Jammu & Kashmir and highlighted how this event serves as a platform to project J&K as a favoured destination for Golf Tourism for both business and leisure travellers from around the world.
Joint Director Tourism; Jammu Sunaina Mehta told Excelsior, “After gaining valuable experience from the previous two editions, we are now fully equipped to organize the 3rd edition of the international golf event. This event will involve approximately 120 golfers from various countries.”
“In addition to the golf event, we are heavily focused on promoting tourism in the Jammu region and showcasing the Dogra Culture. We are planning various activities like Jammu Dharshan, a Dogra Food festival, Gondola rides, tours of scenic locations, visits to the border, and a range of cultural and musical events. This will provide attendees with a taste of the rich Dogra Culture and Heritage,” Mehta explained.
“The game of golf is steadily growing its popularity in Jammu, and locals are becoming more and more interested in it. We had a great response to the previous edition, and we are hopeful about the response to this edition as well now that we are raising awareness of the event,” she added.
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