New Delhi, 22-01-2014
BHULLAR QUALIFIES TO REPRESENT TEAM ASIA AT EURASIA CUP, JOINS LAHIRI AS SECOND INDIAN IN THE TEAM
PGTI MEMBER SIDDIKUR RAHMAN ALSO QUALIFIES
Gaganjeet Bhullar will represent Team Asia at the inaugural EurAsia Cup along with compatriot Anirban Lahiri.
The top-4 Asians on the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit were automatic qualifiers for the Asian team. The four automatic qualifiers were Order of Merit champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, the Indian duo of Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar, who were third and fifth on the Merit list respectively and PGTI member Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, who ended fourth on the rankings.
Team Asia’s playing captain Thongchai Jaidee said: “I am delighted that Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Siddikur Rahman, Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar have qualified as the top-four Asians and also accepted the invitation to represent Team Asia for the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM. The four players enjoyed wonderful seasons and I am confident they will represent Asia with pride and vigour as we seek to beat Europe in the inaugural contest at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.
“All four players are in their 20s and they have proven themselves to be the new flag bearers for the Asian Tour. It has been exciting to see how they have developed into world-class players with their high level of consistency and performances. I know I can rely upon them to deliver the points against Europe.
“Anirban and Gaganjeet are renowned for their big-hitting games which saw them winning once each in 2013 and I believe they will be very strong opponents against any European player or combination.
“It is also fantastic to see Siddikur coming through as one of our top-four Asian players from the Merit list. He has matured into a top player in Asia and has finished in the top-10 of the Order of Merit in three of the last four seasons, which is a great accomplishment.”
Lahiri, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour and tied third at the season-ending King’s Cup Golf Hua Hin over the weekend, is confident he can contribute towards Team Asia’s goal of winning the EurAsia Cup.
“I’ve been playing very consistent golf and I hope to bring this form to the team. It’s going to be a very exciting competition between Team Asia and Team Europe and for the fans, I’m sure they’ll be in for a treat. I’m going to give it my best,” said 26-year-old Lahiri, who won the SAIL-SBI Open in India last year.
The 25-year-old Bhullar, winner of five Asian Tour titles including last November’s Indonesia Open, said: “It is a great honour and privilege for me to qualify and represent Team Asia. When this event was announced last year, I made it a goal of mine to qualify for the team and I’m glad I’ve achieved this. It will be a pleasure to line-up alongside nine other great Asian players. Europe has the pedigree in matchplay golf but I can tell you that the Asians will be fighting hard till the very last putt to win the first EurAsia Cup. There is no reason why we cannot win this event as we will have a very strong Team Asia on show.”
The 29-year-old Siddikur, who finished a career-high fourth on the 2013 Order of Merit, cannot wait to line up alongside the cream of Asian golf to face Europe in Malaysia.
“I’m very happy to represent Team Asia. It’s a big achievement for me and also my country. There’s huge national pride at stake and it’s always an honour to represent your country or continent, like when I did during the World Cup last year. I feel very proud to be part of what I believe will be a very strong Asian team and I know we’ll do well together,” said Siddikur, who is the reigning Hero Indian Open champion.
Team Europe’s playing captain Miguel Angel Jimenez has previously announced his first four players – Graeme McDowell, Victor Dubuisson, Fernandez Gonzalo-Castano and Jamie Donaldson - from the final Race to Dubai rankings. Jimenez and Thongchai will finalise the remaining five members of their teams in early February through the Official World Golf Rankings and captains’ picks.
The first day (March 27, Thursday) of the EurAsia Cup will showcase five fourball matches, followed by five foursomes matches on day two (March 28, Friday) and 10 singles matches on the final day (March 29, Saturday) at Glenmarie’s Garden course.
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Srinivasan H R (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
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