What he could not achieve as a promising first class cricketer in the eighties, Nagesh Singh of Assam has achieved as a golfer – donning India colours. A former first class cricketer, 62-year-old Singh, represented India at the Global Enterprise Connect (GEC) Open international amateur golf tournament held in Dubai recently. Golfers from more than 30 countries took part in the tournament.
“The experience was great, to be a part of the international competition, especially playing in course where some of the world’s renowned players like Tiger Woods, Sergio García and Phil Michelson among others have played,” an excited Nagesh told The News Mill.
The qualifiers were held in 33 countries and in about seven locations in India. This was the first major international tournament for the cricketer-turned amateur golfer.
GEC Open is an international amateur golf tournament in its 6th edition which concluded in the mid March. This is one of the biggest corporate golf tournaments all around the world.
Engaging over 3700 corporate leaders and industry stakeholders, the GEC Open is a unique blend of sporting excellence and networking opportunities for partners and players alike.
Eight golfers from India participated in the tournament. Nagesh Singh had represented the East Zone cricket team and played in several crucial matches.
Nagesh said that golf can be a great idea to promote tourism and emphasized more youngsters to take up the sport.
“It has great potential for tourism but as a sportsperson I would like to emphasise that more youngsters from our state should come and play the sport and as it is evident there is lot of scope for them to excel and create a niche for them in the world. The youngster from others states are into the game in big way and making marks,” he said.
Unfortunately, the golfing community in the northeast is not very big in spite of the fact that the density of golf course per sq. km. “Is quite high as compared to the rest of the country, thanks to the British planters who developed these courses and brought the game to our country,” Nagesh added.
