SportsPosted at: Oct 14 2026 6:24PM


Young Indian golfers eye big stage at DP World India Championship debut

New Delhi, Oct 14 (UNI) A new generation of Indian golfers, led by 16-year-old Kartik Singh and maiden professional title winners Vishesh Sharma and Shubham Jaglan, will look to make their mark when they make their debut at the US$ 4 million DP World India Championship, beginning at the historic Delhi Golf Club here on Thursday.
The five youngsters, aged between 16 and 22, have earned their places in the prestigious tournament through consistent performances on the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), offering them an opportunity to test their skills against some of the world's leading golfers.
Vishesh Sharma, 19, Manoj S, 18, Anshul Kabthiyal, 21, Kartik Singh, 16, and Shubham Jaglan, 22, secured their berths by finishing among the top 24 in the Race to DP World India Championship after the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship in Greater Noida last week.
Vishesh, Manoj and Anshul are currently placed 16th, 17th and 18th respectively in the DP World PGTI Order of Merit, while Kartik and Shubham occupy the 20th and 21st positions.
Vishesh and Shubham have already claimed their maiden professional titles on the tour this season, underlining the growing potential of India's emerging golf talent.
Vishesh, who hails from Hyderabad, heads into the tournament with confidence after securing his maiden professional victory at his home course last month. Playing his second season on the tour, he has also recorded two other top-10 finishes this year.
“It’s an honour to be here, playing alongside the biggest golfing stars in the world and my fellow Indian players. We’re all proud to represent India, and this is a huge opportunity to show what we can do and what Indian golf has to offer,” Vishesh said.
Bengaluru-based Manoj has made a strong late-season push to qualify for the event, recording tied-fifth and tied-second finishes in the two tournaments preceding the championship.
His joint runner-up finish at the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship lifted him from 26th to 17th in the Order of Merit.
“Last week was really important because I was outside the top 24 and needed a good finish to qualify. I managed to do that, so now I want to stay focused, carry that momentum into this week and see how it goes,” Manoj said.
He described the Delhi Golf Club course as a tough challenge and said he had decided against using his driver during the week.
Anshul, meanwhile, arrives with four top-10 finishes this season, including a runner-up result. A winner of 10 junior and six amateur titles, he has been a consistent performer since last season and will be among the young Indians to watch.
Sixteen-year-old Kartik is the youngest player in the field. Despite being in his first professional season, he has already recorded two top-10 finishes on the PGTI circuit. He was also India's top-ranked junior and amateur golfer before turning professional.
Kartik said the opportunity to compete alongside his golfing idols, including Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, made the tournament particularly special.
“I’ve watched the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood on television for years, and I still watch them regularly. To now have the chance to play alongside my idols feels really special,” he said, adding that his priority was to enjoy the experience and make the most of the opportunity.
Shubham, a former India No. 1 junior who played college golf in the United States before turning professional last year, has also enjoyed a productive season. He won his maiden professional title in Kolkata two months ago and followed it up with a third-place finish and another top-10 result.
For Shubham, the championship carries added significance as the Delhi Golf Club is a course where he grew up playing and watched the Indian Open as a child.
“Now, I’m competing alongside him (Anirban Lahiri) at the same event. So, it’s very special to be on the other side of the rope now,” he said.
Shubham said his performances throughout the season had put him in a position to compete at the highest level and that winning tournaments of this stature was among his career goals.
DP World PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl said the presence of talented youngsters, including teenagers, reflected the growing depth of Indian golf and efforts to provide more playing opportunities to domestic players.
Competing alongside leading international golfers on home soil would help the youngsters assess their abilities, build confidence and accelerate their development, he said.
Johl expressed hope that the experience would encourage them to aim higher and demonstrate India's potential on the global golfing stage.
The championship begins on October 15, bringing together established Indian professionals and emerging talents in a tournament that offers the youngsters an important opportunity to gain international exposure.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Young Indian golfers eye big stage at DP World India Championship debut
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