05-02-2018
Shubhankar Sharma’s Maybank Championship win elevates him to World No. 72; Chandigarh lad surpasses Anirban Lahiri to emerge as the highest ranked Indian in the world
Five Indians in the world’s top-200
Shubhankar Sharma has enjoyed a golden run over the past few months on the international stage. Nothing reflects the 21-year-old’s meteoric rise more than the giant strides he’s made in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) since his first European Tour win at the Joburg Open in December last year.
When Shubhankar entered the event in South Africa he was ranked 462 in the world. His victory at the Joburg Open soon catapulted him to 226. Thereafter, his steep ascent has continued thanks to his second European Tour triumph at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia on Sunday. The win in Kuala Lumpur elevated Sharma from 193 to 72, a gain of 121 spots.
Shubhankar, a Chandigarh resident, who has his roots in Jammu, has now not only broken into the top-100 for the first time in his career but has also emerged as the highest ranked Indian in the world surpassing Olympian and PGA Tour regular Anirban Lahiri, who is currently placed 76th in the OWGR.
Sharma now also has the rare distinction of leading both the European Tour Race to Dubai and the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Shubhankar’s latest success also helped him join the exclusive club of Indians who have achieved two wins in the same European Tour season, the others being Jeev Milkha Singh (2006) and Anirban Lahiri (2015).
The race to represent India at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics just got a lot more intense with five Indians now in the top-200 of the world. With two and a half years still to go to the next Olympics, an interesting contest might ensue for the two berths on the Indian team as the likes of Shubhankar Sharma (72), Anirban Lahiri (76), Gaganjeet Bhullar (155), Shiv Kapur (192), Ajeetesh Sandhu (199) and SSP Chawrasia (226), are all in the fray at the moment.
About Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI):
The Professional Golf Tour of India serves as the official governing and sanctioning body for men's professional golf in India and is a recognized member of the 'International Golf Federation' and the 'International Federation of PGA Tours'. PGTI also enjoys a strategic alliance with the DP World Tour (European Tour). PGTI events offer 'Official World Golf Ranking' (OWGR) points. Global logistics leader DP World is the Title Partner and Official Umbrella Partner of the PGTI. The PGTI is led by its President, Padma Bhushan Shri. Kapil Dev, an iconic sporting legend who continues to inspire athletes and audiences nationwide.
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Nikhil Kalaan
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