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No toast to a tee here!
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The total absence of competitive golf in AP has made a dent in upcoming golfer Anirban Lahiri's game to an extent where he may be forced to leave the State to avoid stagnation, writes
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Anirban Lahiri faces a unique dilemma. — Photo: A. Roy Chowdhury
SIXTEEN-YEAR old Anirban Lahiri, one of the most promising junior golfers from AP is facing a major predicament. Despite having achieved considerable success at the national level among juniors and earning fame for AP, he is now in a situation wherein he may have to leave Hyderabad and reside at a place, which has better facilities for furthering his playing career. Otherwise he may face the risk of stagnation in his game if he continues to stay in the city.
Anirban who is now studying in the 11th standard at the Army school in Ramakrishnapuram used to accompany his father to golf tournaments when he was a toddler. Anirban's father Lt.Col. T.K. Lahiri taught him the rudiments of the sport. The youngster proved to be a quick learner and at the age of 12, Anirban played in his first national-level tournament - the Eastern Indian junior championship in Kolkata in 1998. He finished eighth in the under-12 category, which was a good beginning for a first timer.
That performance made him and his family members realise that he had tremendous potential and thereafter the young lad took up the game more seriously. When the family moved to Secunderabad in 1999, Anirban was able to improve his skills by practising regularly at the army golf course. Last year, Anirban was the top-ranked junior in the South, besides being selected as first reserve for the Indian squad. In the BGC tournament, Anirban placed 15th while competing against India's top ranked amateur players.
A stint with Donato Diponzianio, head coach of the European PGA, was of great help. Donato advised Anirban to get a good coach, for without the help and guidance of a top level coach he would not be able to progress beyond a certain point. That was when Anirban came under the tutelage of Vijay Divecha and his game improved further. But his biggest handicap now is that competitive golf is totally absent in AP.
"In Hyderabad golf is usually a weekend hobby for most of those who play it. Moreover there aren't any good golf courses, which can really test one's skills," says young Anirban. "At this stage of my career, I need to take part in more and more top class tournaments and to compete with the best in the country and fine tune everything that I have learnt," he says. "But how can I do it if there is just one rarely used course in the city, and no high quality players to compete with, nor any good coaches to guide me. It is quite frustrating and discouraging."
"In India, almost all top level golf is played in the northern region, particularly in cities, such as Chandigarh and Delhi. In Bangalore, there is some amount of interest in golf, but in Hyderabad it is virtually nil. This is a big disadvantage that I am facing," he says.
"Moreover in Chandigarh and Delhi the game is organised in a very systematic manner. There are major clubs involved in the game and they conduct tournaments and even sponsor their own players whereas in Hyderabad and AP there is simply no incentive for anyone who excels in this sport. Even for coaching, every time I need help from my coach I have to travel all the way to Bangalore, disrupting my academic schedule," bemoans Anirban.
There is also the sponsorship angle, which is another big hurdle. As is well known, golf is a rather expensive sport to play. In Chandigarh and Delhi, respective clubs sponsor many of the players
and the burden is less. But in Hyderabad, a player like Anirban has to fend for himself. To get over this hurdle, his aim is to obtain a golf scholarship at any University in USA. But getting such a scholarship will depend not only upon talent but upon a large slice of luck as well.
"I hope the AP government does something to promote this sport and does it soon. Golf can be a major tourist attraction since many people from this region of Asia would gladly come to India, or to be specific Hyderabad, to take part in a tournament if it proves to be less expensive," says Anirban's mother, Navanita Lahiri.
"There is a vast capacity for this game to be developed here, and golf is, after all, one of the leading sports worldwide. It has huge television viewership and big-time sponsorship from some of the most well known companies in the world. I hope our State government realises the potential that can be tapped from this sport and does something to develop it here soon," says Mrs.Navanita Lahiri.
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