GB Realty, which owns the team, aims to nurture young talent, including from underprivileged backgrounds, in golf and other sports disciplines to create a strong sports ecosystem for excelling at the highest level
Young achievers being provided best of professional coaching, tournament fee support and equipment assistance
As the excitement grows among the golfing fraternity in the once considered mecca of golf, Chandigarh, over the forthcoming fourth season of the monthlong Chandigarh Golf League (CGL), which gets underway from September 23, the newest among the 21 competing teams, GB Legends, owned by GB Realty, is preparing hard to make a memorable debut in the most sought-after event.
Not only that, apart from raising a competitive 18-member team, which includes a lady golfer and a golfer over 75 years of age as per league rules, and providing them cutting edge coaching, support staff and training infrastructure matching that of the national golf team, GB Legends has also set in motion an endeavour of raising an entire community of golfers through a structured mentorship program.
In a first step in this direction, the CGL franchise has adopted six talented young sports achievers, five of them golfers, in the 10-19 years age category, taking up the responsibility of nurturing their careers as athletes till they are able to establish themselves in their respective sports disciplines. They are being provided professional coaching, tournament fee support and equipment assistance.
Two of these youth achievers are from underprivileged backgrounds who are being supported under the team’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. Among these is 19-year-old Saurav Das, son of a canteen help, who has already made a mark at the junior and amateur level in national level tournaments. Sukhleen Kaur, daughter a domestic help, has blazed a trail in sprints and long jump, winning dozens of medals in school and open athletics meets.
Apart from these two sports achievers from underprivileged backgrounds, Prashant Nanda has been scorching golf courses across North India with his masterly golfing skills despite his physical and mental challenges because of autism. The game has also had a positive impact on overcoming his challenges.
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Rudraj Diwan, all of 11 years, has also had top three finishes in IGU (Indian Golf Union) tournaments across North India. He is a Class 6 student in KB DAV School, Chandigarh.
Class 5 student Roopwant Singh Mattu, son of professional golfer and certified golf coach Balwinder Singh, already has numerous title and runners-up finishes in tournaments.
Raza Kaur, daughter of professional golfer Ranjit Singh, who is also her coach and mentor, has recorded several strong performances on the junior golf circuit.
Addressing a press meet at the CGA Golf Range in Chandigarh on Tuesday, GB Legends co-owners Gurnav Bhatti and Jatinder Singh Bajwa said “besides competing strongly in the CGL, our team’s aim is to build a pipeline of future golfing stars from Chandigarh and beyond, creating a talent pool. The mentorship program is designed to identify and mentor raw talent, provide access to world-class coaching and resources, and create a sustainable, inclusive golf ecosystem in Chandigarh.”
Bajwa revealed that GB Realty, which owns the team, has set aside Rs 1.5 crore in its debut season of CGL to be spent on training and other aspects of the team and the mentorship program, apart from the amount spent on winning the league franchise.
GB Legends’ claim of creating an inclusive golf ecosystem resonates in the team’s choice of coaches, all three of whom – Ranjit Singh, Harendra Gupta, and Akshay Sharma – are caddy-turned-professionals and certified coaches.
The seriousness with which the team is taking its entire campaign can be judged from the fact that the three-member coaching team is backed up by a battery of highly experienced support staff, including a sports and counselling psychologist; a sports physiotherapist; a golf fitness instructor and strength and conditioning trainer; a holistic mind-body-soul wellness coach; and a surgeon and sports medicine consultant.
