Curtain falls on IGTE with health message, awards night

By Rahul Banerji

Stay strong, play long was the message from Prohealth Asia physiotherapy expert Neha Kumar at the golf injury prevention segment on the second day’s programme of the 8^th India Golf & Turf Expo (IGTE), which concluded here in Delhi on Saturday.

Making a presentation on how to best prevent injury at various stages of a golfer’s career and age, the thrust of Neha’s argument was prevention was a necessary first step, for which strength and flexibility were essential.

And in the event injuries did occur, it was best left to trained professionals to handle, she underlined.

“Golf is played by many, at the junior, amateur, professional and weekend warrior level, and the needs at each are different. But proper awareness, a basic warmup, core strength and flexibility training also go side by side to minimise or manage injury problems,” she added.

“Muscles in the neck, shoulder and the middle and lower back especially are key areas for golfers. Core training is often limited to the abdomen and lower back but it is equally important to build up side strength as well,” she added

At an earlier sitting attended by Golf Industry Central managing director Mike Orloff, Brandon De Souza of Tiger Sports Marketing and Rishi Narain of RN Sports Marketing, also the organizer of IGTE 2019, panelists made the point that the base of stakeholders needed to be broadened.

“It’s good that we have these get-togethers with club and course owners, golf authorities etc,” De Souza said. “But we also understand the need to bring in more partners – state tourism authorities for example, those who can widen the scope of the sport and create more infrastructure,” he added.

Players, coaches awarded

On Friday evening, the fourth edition of the annual India Golf Industry Association awards honoured top contributors towards the growth of the game in India at the Delhi Golf Club. Awardees included star golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar, and celebrated coaches Vijay Divecha and Nonita Lal Qureshi among others.

Arjuna awardee Bhullar won the outstanding achievement as a playeraward. The Kapurthala golfer’s feats included victory at the 2018 Fiji International, a European Tour event, and being the youngest golfer on the Asian Tour to achieve nine career victories.

“It’s a great feeling to win this award in the midst of such important people representing the industry in India at IGTE,” Bhullar said.

“On a personal front, awards like these, are the motivation that any golfer would want early in the season. I would also like to thank the Golf Industry Association for this year’s award,” Bhullar added after receiving his award.

Vijay Divecha and Nonita Lal Qureshi , were awarded forContribution to Golf  Coaching.While Divecha has coached the likes of Anirban Lahiri, Chikkarangappa and Udayan Mane, former Arjuna awardee. Qureshi not only had an outstanding career herself, she has also coached several top ladies and junior golfers performing strongly on the international circuit.

More honours

Dilip Thomas, veteran administrator and council member of the Indian Golf Union and also member of the International Golf Federation’s board of directors, won the lifetime contribution to golf award while GIA director general P.K. Bhattacharya was felicitated with the lifetime service award.

TheRoyal Calcutta Golf Club and Eco Park, Kolkata,won the best member engagement programme for the successful Royal Premier Golf League and best new nine-hole course awards respectively.

Boulder Hills in Hyderabad won the best restoration of a golf course award.

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