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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Kapil Dev unveils more events in second half of golf calendar
The President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), Kapil Dev expressed delight about being able to elevate the overall vibrancy of the sport with more events and a total prize money of ₹33 crore, while unveiling the calendar for the second half of the season at the Delhi Golf Club on Saturday. It will be a packed line up of events, starting with the ₹1 crore Coal India Open in Ahmedabad from August 3. There will be 15 tournaments, with two of the events offering a higher prize purse of ₹2 crore in Dwarka, Delhi, and Jamshedpur. There will also be three events for the NextGen in Patna, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar, offering ₹20 lakh each. The Chief Executive Officer of PGTI, Amandeep Johl, pointed out that the DP World India Championship, a $4 million dollar event scheduled at the iconic Delhi Golf Club from October 16 to 19, would alone be offering nearly 35 crore prize money. Kapil Dev insisted that it was important to offer a better life for the players, as their career span is limited to about 15 years, with more playing opportunities leading to better earning. 'From next year we want to have events with a minimum prize money of two crore rupees,' said Kapil, quite keen to 'raise the bar' for golf and bring it close to cricket, a game that had seen him entertain the world. It was pointed out that the prize money for the current season was eight crore rupees more than last year. The Chairman of Indian Oil, A S Sahney was pleased to support golf, along with many other games and the Paralympics. 'We are going to have the 25th edition of the Indian Oil Servo Masters in Digboi. We are told that it is the only golf tournament in Asia to have continued for this long. We will have a befitting celebration in November,' said Sahney. When queried about the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), Kapil said that creating more opportunities for the sport was welcome, but insisted that the PGTI had the responsibility of taking care of about 350 players, and 'loyalty is very important'. While insisting that it was natural to 'be with the system' and play four-day golf to ensure players get global ranking, Kapil visualised change at some stage, and said, 'two-day golf will happen'. When probed on cricket, Kapil said that he was surprised with the way Jasprit Bumrah had delivered for the national team so well, despite having such a difficult action that took so much toll on his body.
Mint
5 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
Kapil Dev chooses Ravindra Jadeja over Ben Stokes as top all-rounder; says 'I think he is performing far better'
Kapil Dev, India's first World Cup-winning captain, recently picked his preferred all-rounder in a comparison between Ravindra Jadeja and Ben Stokes. Speaking at the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) event, he also gave his take on Jasprit Bumrah's fitness, Shubman Gill's captaincy in the ongoing Test match against England, and an ambitious 2025 schedule for the PGTI. Ravindra Jadeja, known for his lethal left-arm spin, lower-order batting, and exceptional fielding, has been a mainstay in India's Test lineup. Ben Stokes, England's star all-rounder, is celebrated for his game-changing performances, including heroics in the 2019 World Cup and Ashes. Kapil Dev commended both Ravindra Jadeja and Ben Stokes for their all-round prowess, but when pressed to choose, he declared Jadeja the better all-rounder. 'He (Ben Stokes) is a good all-rounder, but I still feel Ravindra Jadeja is better. I think he is still performing far better,' Kapil said. Kapil also addressed concerns about Jasprit Bumrah's fitness after the pacer struggled on Day 3 of the fourth Test against England in Manchester on July 26, 2025. He, however, praised Bumrah's ability to perform despite challenges, saying, 'I was surprised by the way Jasprit Bumrah has delivered for the national team so well, despite having such a difficult action that takes so much toll on his body.' He urged fans to trust Bumrah's proven track record in crucial moments. With Rohit Sharma absent, Shubman Gill has stepped up as India's Test captain, but his leadership faced scrutiny after a poor team showing in Manchester. Kapil called for patience, emphasizing Gill's potential to grow. 'Give him time. This is his first series; he will commit mistakes, and there will be many positives over the period of time, he will learn,' Kapil said. He added, 'This is a young team, they are getting the opportunity to play, and in the coming days, these players will win. Any new team in the world takes time to adjust.' As PGTI President, Kapil Dev unveiled an exciting 2025 calendar at the Delhi Golf Club, featuring 15 tournaments with a ₹ 33 crore prize pool. The season will begin with the ₹ 1 crore Coal India Open in Ahmedabad on August 3. Two events in Dwarka, Delhi, and Jamshedpur offer ₹ 2 crore each, while three NextGen tournaments in Patna, Lucknow, and Bhubaneswar provide ₹ 20 lakh each. The DP World India Championship, set for October 16-19 at the Delhi Golf Club, boasts a USD 4 million purse, nearly ₹ 35 crore. Kapil stressed enhancing golfers' earnings, given their 15-year career span. 'From next year, we want to have events with a minimum prize money of two crore rupees,' he said. The 2025 prize money is ₹ 8 crore higher than last year's, reflecting growth.
