By Rahul Banerji
In a move aimed at raising the profile of the sport both at home and overseas, the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI) on Wednesday signed an affiliation agreement in Gurgaon on Wednesday.
The agreement which aims at closer coordination between both bodies was signed by PGTI president Gautam Thapar and WGAI chief Kavita Singh with men’s tour chief executive Uttam Singh Mundy and women’s association secretary-general Champika Nanda Sayal in attendance.
The affiliation has been in the pipeline for quite some time now, PGTI president Thapar said. “We first talked about it three-four years ago and are glad it has reached this point. Sometimes, ideas need time to mature and this gives both tours an opportunity to draw on each other’s strengths.”
Big boost
In effect, this means a boost for the women’s game as it brings their professional association in line with the significantly larger men’s tour and also creates opportunities for the latter to take the game into more innovative areas.
As a spinoff, it holds the potential to create new platforms and properties and consequently, wider sponsor appeal, a critical component in the plans any professional sporting organisation.
On the affiilation itself, Thapar, said, “This initiative in essence ensures that all professional golf in India and all professional golfers, both men and women, now stand united.
“We will seek to collectively work towards further raising the stature of the sport in the country. With broadened cooperation and more cohesion between the internationally-recognised PGTI and WGAI, the potential for growth in the future is immense.”
‘Important milestone’
WGAI’s Kavita Singh added,“This agreement for exchange of information and ideas is an important milestone in the development of professional golf in India for both men and women.
“The need for two like-minded bodies with similar goals to work together in the larger interests of the sport cannot be over-emphasised. I am happy that an idea which has been on the anvil for some time has finally culminated in an agreement today.
“We are a small tour, currently with about 40 members while the PGTI has close to 300. It is a huge moment for us and we are happy to be under the umbrella of the PGTI.”
PGTI joint president Srinivasan H.R. noted, “The affiliation is the need of the hour as it strengthens ties between PGTI and WGAI, both well-established bodies, on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit.
“The development will go a long way in ensuring that Indian professional golf continues its upward graph. WGAI’s association with PGTI reiterates the fact that both organisations share the same vision and promote the same values.”
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