By Rahul Banerji
US Kids Golf Tour India, which launched in 2018 essentially in and around the national capital, is set to expand its footprint to western and southern India.
Side by side, the newly-formed US Kids Golf Asia will hold its maiden series, in Singapore with six tournaments to be played from June 13.
At home, USKG India will see six events in North Zone and then a further six each in the west and south.
“The series will soon expand to other Asian countries,” said Rajesh Srivastava, president of US Kids Golf India, who is also president of US Kids Golf Asia, in Delhi on Saturday.
“We are expanding our outreach in the south and west and by 2024 we will add East Zone to the calendar.
Opening a door
“With 24 local events and regional finals in each zone and an Indian Championships, it will offer a pathway to US Kids European and World Championships.
“An Asian Championships is also on the anvil and events will also offer American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) stars, which will help youngsters play more events in the US and also gain an advantage in getting to American colleges for golf,” he added.
In March, 2023, the US Kids Golf Foundation, primary organisers of almost 1,500 USKG events in almost 50 countries, appointed Srivastava, as president of US Kids Golf Asia.
Dan Van Horn, president and founder of US Kids Golf LLC and Foundation, had earlier authorised USKG India to conduct golfing activities under its banner.
Van Horn wrote to USKG India, saying, “Rajesh Srivastava, president, US Kids Golf India, is authorised and responsible for conducting and finalising partnerships with various golf-oriented entities throughout Asia for the US Kids Golf Foundation.”
“We want to give our young and talented golfers a chance to play at the best courses, not just in India, but also outside,” Srivastava said.
Vital exposure
“For instance, the US Kids Golf European Championships are held at courses like the Renaissance, which hosts the Genesis Scottish Championships co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
“Imagine the experience kids will have when they play at courses that have seen the likes of Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and others.
“We don’t want the young golfers to be overawed when they play at such courses in the future as their career progresses,” he added.
Top PGA Tour golfers like Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and Indian American Sahith Theegala Reddy have all played US Kids Golf tournaments in their early years.
Indian stars who have participated in the series include Aditi Ashok and two-time national champion Avani Prashanth,
Events in North India will continue under tournament director Amit Dube. Bangalore’s Rahul Ganapathy is TD for the south and Amit Nigam in West Zone.
All three are well-known coaches and former professional golfers.
USKG India has primarily held tournaments at the Classic Golf and Country Club near Gurgaon. The series will now also take in the Delhi Golf Club and courses in Bangalore, Pune, and Ahmedabad.
14 for European C’ships
Based on results from the 2022 season, 14 youngsters from different parts of India have qualified for the US Kids European Championships.
The list includes Harjai, son of Indian golf legend Jeev Milkha Singh, who has often done caddie duties for his 13-year-old son.
Boys: Nihaal Cheema (Boys U7); Adit Veeramachaneni (Boys 9); Vidit Aggarwal and Aarnav Patel (Boys 10); Paranjaay Mahtani (Boys 11); Devvrat Singh Rajawat and Rayan Sao (Boys 12); Vihaan Jain, Jivraj Khurana, Harjai Milkha Singh and Arshvant Srivastava (Boys 13).
Girls: Naina Kapoor (Girls 11); Ananyaa Sood (Girls 12); Mahreen Bhatia (Girls 14).
Also read: Mahreen, Adit, Kriti impress in final leg of US kids Golf India
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