"Very happy to be a part of it."
Former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev has said that golf has been popularised in the country after the Olympics.
He said that the sport had been neglected for a long time but the recent performances on the world stage had helped raise awareness of it.
Dev said: “Golf was neglected for a long time but now after Olympics performance, awareness has increased and very happy to be a part of it.”
Aditi Ashok was one of the athletes who had made a significant impact at the games, narrowly missing out on winning a medal for the country.
The ex-Indian cricket team captain is an avid golfer himself and believes India can become a major golf capital, with new courses popping up in various cities.
He added: “There is no dearth of talent focus in the country and one medal in Olympics can prepare one generation.
“We would love to see Indian winning British Open, US open.
“If a plater becomes big then the following increases.
“Sponsors should come in golf and it is wonderful that the government is taking time.”
It comes as the Minister for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, inaugurated the TATA Steel PGTI MP Cup 2021 Presented by Delhi Golf Club (DGC).
The tournament is a 72-hole stroke-play event with the cut being declared after 36 holes and top five finishers at the event will earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
Kapil Dev was the greatest fast pace bowler in Indian history and is the only cricketer to have scored over 5,000 runs and taken more than 400 wickets in Test cricket.
He was also a hard-hitting middle-order batsman who was named Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002 by cricketing publication, Wisden.
The former cricketer was also made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel with the Indian Territorial Army.
Dev is now set to be the subject of the upcoming biographical sports film, 83, starring husband-wife acting duo, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh.
Directed by Kabir Khan, the movie takes its name from when he led India to victory as the team captain in the 1983 Cricket World Cup against the West Indies.
The movie was set to be released on Friday, April 10, 2020, but had to be pushed back due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It has had several release dates since but coronavirus has now caused it to be postponed indefinitely.
Loading ...