The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Border, Dravid to tee off

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 29, 2004

Sport

Sport - Golf

Border, Dravid to tee off

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 28. Allan Border, Rahul Dravid, Milkha Singh and Prakash Padukone will be part of the field when the second edition of the McDowell's Signature celebrity golf tees off at Mumbai's US Club course on June 6.

Some of the country's familiar names from sports, glamour and the corporate community will come together for a round of golf. Later, during the players' Nite, the proceeds from an auction of memorabilia belonging to sportspersons will go to the CHAMPS Foundation.

CHAMPS, an acronym for caring, helping, assisting, motivating, promoting sportspersons, is an initiative of Sunil Gavaskar.

In the last four years, the Foundation has provided monthly stipend to needy sportspersons like Premjit Lal (tennis), Gopal Bhengra (hockey), Sami Khatow (boxing), Krishna Gaikwad (boxing), Salim Durrani (cricket) and A. Palaniswamy (volleyball).

Briefing newspersons here on Friday, United Breweries' Ashwin Malik said the event hoped to attract nearly 80 celebrities, a quantum leap from 20 who teed off last year in Bangalore. The event will be played on a four-ball format.

Former model-turned-actress Malvika Tiwari and the National women's golf champion Shruti Khanna were among those who spoke on the occasion, but Simar Dugal sounded most convincing.

Simar, a promising amateur golfer who turned to the fashion world, said, "Golf, when I played, was not a career option. So I had to take a decision whether to follow my passion or do something for a career. Most sportspersons careers are short and once the spotlight is off them, many struggle to make a living. I feel, we all should take care of those who've done the country proud but today need help. I see this as a good opportunity to do my bit for a great cause and also meet some of the sportspersons whom I idolised while growing up."

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