Rehan Thomas will lead the Indian team in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Championship. Loktej Sports News

New Delhi, 16 September (HS). India’s renowned golfer Rehan Thomas will lead a seven-member Indian team at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship to be held at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia from October 26-29. Apart from Rehan, the team includes Karthik Singh, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Raghav Chugh, Krishnav Nikhil Chopra, Vedant Sirohi and Yuvraj Singh.

The Asia Pacific Amateur Championship is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. It is organized by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the R&A and the Augusta National Masters Committee. Its winner gets direct entry into the first major championship of the year, the Masters Tournament, while the top two players in the tournament get entry into the final qualifying round of the British Open, the world’s oldest and most prominent championship.

This time, the Indian Golf Union, the national sports federation for golf in India, has selected a strong team led by experienced player Rehan Thomas. Rehan had come close to the title at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships held in Singapore in 2018, but had to settle for joint second place. This is the best performance by any Indian in the 10-year history of the championship.

India has been looking to win this prestigious tournament since the first edition held in 2009. After Rehaan, the best performance of the Indians so far has been from Khalin Joshi. He stood 9th in 2010. However, Indian Golf Union President Brijinder Singh expects good performance from the new Indian team this year.

IGU President Brijinder Singh said, “India has been participating in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships since 2009. The best performance so far has been that of Rehan who had to be satisfied with second place. After that, Khalin Joshi gave the best performance for the country by securing joint ninth position. The current team led by Rehan Thomas has the ability to dominate on any course. I am confident that the team will put in a memorable performance at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in October.”

Regarding India’s performance at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, Thomas said, “Winning the AAC once before turning professional is my biggest goal and I will keep trying.”

Four Indian players, Thomas, Chugh, Chopra and Sirohi, are playing college golf in the US and the other players also have considerable international experience. Other players in the team have been playing well on the domestic Indian Golf Union circuit and have moved up in the world rankings.

Team: Rehan Thomas, Kartik Singh, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Raghav Chugh, Krishnav Nikhil Chopra, Vedant Sirohi and Yuvraj Singh.