Latest news with #IndianGolfPremierLeague
United News of India
06-08-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
IGPL will be launchpad for future generations: Gaganjeet Singh Bhullar
New Delh, Aug 6(UNI) Gaganjeet Singh Bhullar, the veteran Indian golfer, has signed on with the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) as an Icon player, and will be leading one of the six franchises in the highly-anticipated tournament. The Arjuna Awardee, during a media briefing, expressed his excitement, describing IGPL as one of the most exciting golf ventures in many years, and explained the reasons behind his participation. 'Golf is an individual sport. But whenever I have had the opportunity to represent my country, I have really enjoyed playing as a team,' Bhullar, who was part of India's silver medal-winning team at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, said. 'When I heard the news regarding a golf league, I knew it was exactly what I was looking forward for. Because we do not often get to play as a team. I think that was one part which was missing and I was really looking forward to do that,' the 37-year-old said. IGPL will be hosting India's first-ever professional league tour to feature both men and women playing on the same platform, competing across franchise teams and regional circuits. The integrated format not only redefines how golf is played in India but also reflects their commitment to promote inclusive excellence and athlete empowerment. From having the Indian cricket legend and golf enthusiast Yuvraj Singh as a co-owner and the brand ambassador, to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Golf Union (IGU) — the official governing body for men's amateur golf in India - the IGPL has already made major moves to establish themselves as a premier league competition for men's, women's and amateur golf talent. Bhullar views the tournament as an opportunity to nurture, groom and spot fresh talent – and is eager to help in this endeavour. 'When I got the opportunity to be a captain of one of the teams, I thought I could mentor the next generation of Indian golfers. I am personally going to really enjoy this aspect. There are other icon stars with the likes of Shiv Kapur, Gaurav Ghei, SSP Chawrasia – who all have been veterans of the sport. This will be really beneficial for the young players to quicken their growth,' he further added. Further, to create an overall impact on the ecosystem and to funnel rising talent into the league, IGPL tour will be played across different cities in the build-up to the first edition of the league between September and December. 'One of the things that people don't realise is that golf is a very expensive sport. And for some of the youngsters to get a launchpad like the IGPL at early stages of their careers is immensely helpful. It's not just a ceremonial league. It's going to be very competitive and there's going to be serious prize money to win here,' Bhullar said. 'Hence, for some youngsters to come out and get that opportunity to make money and invest it in themselves, and then to go and play across different tournaments is a big thing. Because golf being an expensive sport, it's sometimes very difficult to have the resources to invest in your own game at the starting point of your career. I think that's something that the league will also do,' Bhullar added. IGPL also aims to transform the golf ecosystem by paving pathways for mentorship for amateurs by bringing on overseas talent and legends of the sport to give the best possible exposure and guidance for athletes. With a heavy focus on developing athletes at grassroots level and developing a pipeline of athletes, IGPL will also be tying up with various schools and universities in India. Furthermore, to promote inclusivity in golf, IGPL has also partnered with Women's Golf Association of India (WGAI)to elevate women's golf and provide structured, high-visibility platforms for female athletes. UNI RKM
The Hindu
24-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
The stars of Indian golf excited about upcoming league
Three of the best golfers in the country who have shared rooms on the professional tour, Shiv Kapur, Gaurav Ghei and SSP Chawrasia, and pride about having more than 100 years of combined experience between them, were excited about the forthcoming Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL). In an interaction with the media, the three observed that golf in its new avatar, 'with no cut, decent prize money, fast-paced action', would attract the young talent to the game and help them grow into superstars. 'This league, combined with men, women, amateurs and juniors, will do what IPL has done for cricket. It will help promote the nextgen players,' said Shiv Kapur. Chawrasia felt that it would be a win-win situation both for the experienced players and the youngsters as both would learn from each other in dealing with the new format. Gaurav Ghei pointed out that Europe and USA had tried different formats over the years, but they were one-off events. 'To have a Tour, followed by the league in a short, concise format is exciting. It will engage youngsters and bring new viewership to the game,' said Ghei. The star professionals were unanimous that young fans did not have the patience to watch golf for long hours, and the quick format would provide the 'excitement for the fan.' Shiv was confident that Indian golf would look up once again and there was no reason why an Indian can't win a Major or be world No.1 in the times ahead. The professionals were equally unanimous that the team event would foster camaraderie and energise players to pull their weight for the team. The IGPL would also mean more opportunities for players to compete through the year. It would mean access to golf for more aspirants, giving the chance for players to represent teams and be seen on television. Shiv said that he was keen to be fully involved as a mentor and leader in building a franchise, the team, and experience the joy of sharing. 'The pressure while playing for a team is a lot different. When Karthik Singh plays Gaganjeet Bhullar, it will be a learning experience for both players,' said Gaurav.
News18
21-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
IGPL Looks To Revolutionise Golf In The Lead Up To 2028 Golf Olympics
The impending launch of the Indian Golf Premier League later this year is poised to significantly elevate the sport in the nation in the build-up to the 2028 Olympic Games. The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will serve as a watershed moment for the sport of golf with the introduction of a Mixed Doubles Team event, nestled between the traditional men's and women's competitions. The Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) will debut later this year at the iconic Riviera Country Club, featuring a 7,400-yard championship course. The new format will include 36 holes played over two days. The first round will follow the Foursomes (alternate shot) format, while the second round will be Four-ball (better ball). Notably, participating players will already be qualified for their respective individual events. The launch of IGPL is set to significantly elevate Indian golf, benefiting both men and women from the national squads by developing strong mixed doubles combinations. More importantly, IGPL will serve as a growth-oriented platform, enabling grassroots talent—often overlooked due to financial limitations—to emerge. It will provide deserving players with the opportunity to represent India on the global stage. Across India, the popularity of intra-club 'Club League" formats has surged, involving selected club members and their invitees in competitive team play. Now, the time is ripe for a national-level league that promotes inclusivity and provides a big-stage opportunity for emerging talent. For the first time, individuals and corporates will be able to own teams and engage friends, colleagues, and partners in a nationwide sporting initiative. Unfortunately, some whispers in golfing circles view IGPL as a rival tour. On the contrary, IGPL should be recognized as the most promising platform in the country to prepare our players for a podium finish—especially in the Mixed Doubles event at Los Angeles 2028. The biggest challenge often lies in acceptance. It's time to acknowledge that golf no longer belongs to an outdated, exclusive mindset. The future lies in innovation, and young India is ready for this change. Like LIV Golf, which disrupted the dominance of the US PGA and is rapidly growing in popularity, IGPL represents a revolutionary leap for Indian golf. Mixed-gender tournaments are not just futuristic—they are now an Olympic reality. Mastering the unique IGPL formats, tailored for viewer engagement and excitement, will open up unprecedented opportunities for small-town talent. With city- and state-based franchises, the league is set to reward both players and team owners alike. The growth of golf in India is just beginning, and the Indian Golf Premier League is a major stride in the right direction. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
India's rebel franchise golf league likely to start in January
New Delhi: The inaugural edition of the rebel Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) will take place next January in a six-team, home and away format, league director Manav Jain announced on Tuesday. The league will be played across four weeks and will involve 60 golfers -- 10 in each team. The launch of the Indian Golf Premier League. (IGPL) The franchises are expected to be based in Delhi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Mumbai, although a formal announcement is expected in October- November. Each franchise will have an icon player. Indian stalwarts Shiv Kapoor, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Jyoti Randhawa, Jeev Milkha Singh and SSP Chawrasia are expected to don the role. 'We will have a home and away concept for the first three weeks, which will eventually lead to the grand finale week,' Jain said. The players will be picked from a 'strategic auction' that will be held later this year,. The league will be played in a no cut, three-day stroke play format. 'There will be no financial exchange to get the players. For the first three years, all the players have been contracted by us and they are part of the package that we offer to the franchise owners. The franchises will have notional money to build the best team,' Jain said. The auction pool will comprise golfers drawn from the IGPL Tour, Indian Golf Union (IGU) and Women's Golf Association of India (WGAI). The IGPL Tour, a proposed entity parallel to the official Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), is expected to take off in September. Spread across six cities and 10 weeks, it will also be held in a three-day, no-cut format. PGTI president Kapil Dev wrote to all its members last month warning of disciplinary action if they participate in the rebel tour. Jain hoped IGPL and PGTI could co-exist. 'There is enough room for two tours to survive. Unfortunately we could not come to any agreement with the PGTI. We waited to work with the PGTI for almost 15 months and once we could not come to an agreement, we had to make good on our promises to our own investors, our own partner ecosystem. We had to pivot and we decided to create the tour in this form,' he said. 'Every week, we will have six invitations that can be extended to anybody who is wishing to play.'
United News of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Yuvraj Singh aims to revolutionise golf ecosystem
New Delhi, July 15 (UNI) The highly-anticipated Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) today announced the onboarding of Indian cricket legend and golf enthusiast Yuvraj Singh as a co-owner and the brand ambassador. To achieve their mission of strengthening the foundation of the sport in India, IGPL has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Golf Union (IGU)— the official governing body for men's amateur golf in India. The landmark agreement underscores their joint commitment to nurturing emerging talent and building a sustainable pathway for India's Olympic golf aspirations. IGPL alo recently received support from the Sports Ministry and Yuvraj's addition to the elite board further sets the stage for the league to bring on a true transformation in the overall golfing ecosystem. Expressing his delight over his association with the IGPL, Yuvraj said, 'It is a matter of great excitement to join the IGPL team and have the opportunity to promote this incredible sport in a fresh avatar. Despite being one of the most popular sports in the world, golf is still considered to be a niche sport and a fast-paced and quick format is exactly what is needed to expand to more audiences, athletes and make golf more spectator friendly." "The tournament will also help in grooming Indian golfers and will help in their development with added opportunities. We are confident IGPL will help in popularising the sport among the masses in India along with providing a platform to golfers across the board to build their capabilities and compete,' he said. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL, also revealed the league's bold international ambitions, stating: 'IGPL is not just India's league—it's India's gift to global golf. We will be taking our tour internationally in the very first year itself, creating opportunities for our players to compete globally and for international golfers to experience India's emerging golf scene.' Furthermore, to promote inclusivity in golf, IGPL has also partnered with Women's Golf Association of India (WGAI) to elevate women's golf and provide structured, high-visibility platforms for female athletes. IGPL will be hosting India's first-ever professional league tour to feature both men and women playing on the same platform, competing across franchise teams and regional circuits. The integrated format not only redefines how golf is played in India but also reflects their commitment to promote inclusive excellence and athlete empowerment. Further, to create an overall impact on the ecosystem and to funnel rising talent into the league, IGPL tour will be played across different cities in the build-up to the first edition of the league between September and December. They will also be onboarding mentors and legends of the sport to ensure the franchise teams have the best exposure and guidance to bring together an engaging competition and exposure to the athletes across the board. IGPL is also tying up with various schools and universities in India to make steadways in developing grassroots talent, and to bring on talent to compete in IGPL Tours. UNI BM
