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Punjab’s Trident Group and PGTI Join Hands For Inaugural Trident Open At Chandigarh Golf Club

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Trident Group Chairman & Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta poses with the winner's trophy of the inaugural Trident Open golf tournament at the Chandigarh Golf Club on Saturday (08.11.2025). He is flanked by top professionals Yuvraj Sandhu (to his right) and Angad Cheema. PHOTO Credit: PGTI
Rs one crore prize purse up for grabs for 123 professionals and three amateurs

Close on the heels of the inaugural tournament of the faster format multi-city Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) launched by legendary sixer-king Yuvraj Singh, the Chandigarh Golf Club will host the inaugural traditional format stroke-play Trident Open golf tournament on its 7000 yards-plus 18-hole par 72 course from November 11 to 14.

The tournament will be preceded by a Am-Am event on November 8 and a Pro-Am event on November 9.

With the inaugural Trident Open, Punjab’s renowned Trident Group, a business conglomerate and one of the leading players in home textiles in the country and international markets, has for the first time ventured into golf sponsorship. It is a collaboration with the Professional Golfers Tour of India (PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in the country, currently led by the legendary Kapil Dev.

From the Rs 100,00,000 prize purse, the winner will take away Rs 15,00,000, second placed Rs 10,00,000, third placed Rs 5,99,800, fourth placed Rs 4,99,800 and so on. The last placed finisher from among the 50 professionals who make the cut after 36 holes (at the end of Day 2) will also end up richer by Rs 76,700.

The star attraction in the tournament, featuring 123 professionals and three amateurs, will be the participation of leading Indian professionals, the likes of 2025 PGTI Ranking leader Yuvraj Sandhu (Chandigarh – accumulated PGTI Tour prize money so far in 2025 Rs 98,67,200), Arjun Prasad (Delhi – Rs 88,19,132), Shaurya Bhattacharya (Delhi – Rs 83,02,392), Angad Cheema (Mohali – Rs 63,78,909), Om Prakash Chouhan (Mhow – Rs 51,53,751) and Manu Gandas (Gurugram – Rs 47,80,113).

The prominent foreign names in the field include Sri Lankans N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran, Bangladeshis Jamal Hossain, Md Siddikur Rahman, Badal Hossain and Md Akbar Hossain, Americans Koichiro Sato and Derek Trofimczuk, Nepal’s Subash Tamang, Italy’s Federico Zucchetti and Uganda’s Joshua Seale.

Twenty-one-year-old Shubham Jaglan, former India No. 1 in the Junior Category, who has recently been playing professional golf in the United States, will be making his PGTI debut at the Trident Open.

Official t-shift and cap of Trident Open being unveiled

Besides Yuvraj Sandhu and Angad Cheema, the Chandigarh Tricity will be represented by the likes of Jairaj Singh Sandhu, Akshay Sharma, Ravi Kumar, Abhijit Singh Chadha, Brijesh Kumar, Raunil Kukar, Anant Singh Ahlawat, Amrit Lal, Chandarjeet Yadav, Brashwarpal Singh, Umed Kumar (PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit champion), Vasu Sehgal and Vishav Pratap Singh Gill, to name a few.

The cut will be applied after the first 36 holes (at the end of the second day). The top 50 players and ties will make the halfway cut and continue to play for the remaining 36 holes over the last two days of the tournament.

Announcing the inaugural Trident Open, Rajinder Gupta, recently elected MP (Rajya Sabha) and Chairman, Trident Group; and Amandeep Singh Johl, star golfer of yesteryears and currently PGTI CEO, said, “We are delighted to partner for the inaugural Trident Open golf tournament, and especially honoured to host it at the Chandigarh Golf Club, which has a rich legacy of shaping champions who brought glory to the nation.”

Rajinder Gupta performs the ceremonial teeoff

Extending his warm welcome to all participants, Ravibir Singh, President, Chandigarh Golf Club, said, “We have partnered with PGTI over the years, and it has been a privilege to bring their prestigious tournaments to the City Beautiful. The Trident Open will provide a great opportunity for our members and golf fans in Chandigarh tricity to witness golf of the highest quality.”

While the Trident Group is the title sponsor for the Trident Open, other PGTI yearlong tour partners are Rolex, Amul, IndusInd Bank, Victorious Choice, Campa, Amrutanjan Electro Plus, Golf Plus Monthly and Golf Design India.

Asia Kitchen In Elante Mall Chandigarh Is Mainland China In New Avatar

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Crispy Prawn Cheung Fun
Has added cuisines from the streets of a host of other Oriental Asian cities to your favourite Chinese flavours
City first destination in North India; brand so far concentrated in Mumbai, Pune

Casual mention of Mainland China in a conversation the other day, after what felt like ages, rekindled fond memories of the go-to place for authentic Chinese cuisine on Madhya Marg in Sector 26, which inexplicably closed a few years ago, much to the disappointment of its patrons and food lovers. One of the several brands owned by one of India’s leading hospitality companies Speciality Restaurants Limited (SRL), Mainland China has reopened in Chandigarh in a new avatar and a new location.

Called Asia Kitchen – By Mainland China, the swanky and spacious fine dining restaurant is now serving a vast collection of authentic Oriental Asian cuisines, which, besides your favourite flavours from Mainland China, captures an eclectic journey through the streets of Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma and beyond.

The chefs at Asia Kitchen spread their eye-catching and enticing wares for an exclusive media preview Tuesday on the third floor of Elante Mall, and they made it abundantly sure that the experience was one for lasting memories.

First, the décor: Featuring an open kitchen with subtle yet contemporary décor, and a high-energy bar, the space has been thoughtfully created to encourage conversation, community, and culinary exploration. Care has been taken to ensure that the restaurant showcases a young, casual, and refreshed identity, designed to resonate with the city’s cosmopolitan crowd.

With a vibrant new dining concept, Asia Kitchen appears to bring on an unexplored excitement to the table.

The menu celebrates authentic Asian flavours with a modern touch to a selection of Sushis, Cheung Fun, Baos, Dimsums featuring several highlights like Truffle Avocado Edmame Monomaki, Prawn Tempura Roll, Basil-Flavoured Chicken Dumplings, and introducing indulgent varieties of crispy Cheung Fun’s (Crispy Asparagus or Crispy Prawn and many more) for the first time in Chandigarh city.

(Left to right) Chef Sukesh, Head Chef, Chandigarh; Chef Ram Chander, Brand Chief Culinary Officer; Nripendra Chauhan, COO, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China; and Saurabh Kumar, Restaurant Manager, Chandigarh pose with a display of some of the favourite dishes from the streets of Oriental Asian cities at the launch of Asia Kitchen outlet in Elante Mall on Tuesday (07.10.2025)

Appetizers include the bold Jiang’s Chilli Cottage Cheese or Pickled Pepper Chicken with its signature 5-spice Grilled Lamb Chop while the wok selection showcases creations like Lotus Stem, Asparagus & Pak Choy in Chilli Basil Sauce, General Tsos Favourite Chicken, and Asian-Style Steamed John Dory.

Guests can also savour the signature Sizzling Stone Bowl with rice or noodles in a choice of cottage cheese, chicken, or prawn. Staples such as Blue Pea Japanese Fried Rice and Japanese Yaki Wheat Noodles complete the main offerings, while desserts like the refreshing Lemongrass Cheesecake, Mango Pudding and the indulgent Palm Jaggery Ice Cream promise a delightfully sweet finish.

In his message shared on the occasion, Anjan Chatterjee, Chairman & Managing Director, SRL, said: “It gives us immense pleasure to bring Asia Kitchen by Mainland China to Chandigarh. For over three decades, Mainland China has been synonymous with authentic Chinese dining, winning the hearts of millions. With Asia Kitchen, we have reimagined the concept to go beyond China and present a wide spectrum of Asian cuisines in a young, casual, and vibrant setting. Chandigarh, with its discerning food culture and dynamic lifestyle, is the perfect city for us to introduce this format. We look forward to welcoming guests to experience the best of Asia – right here at Elante Mall.”

Basil Flavoured Chicken Dumpling
Chicken Ramen

Present at the launch, Nripendra Chauhan, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China, shared, “We have done a good deal of research before unveiling Asia Kitchen by Mainland China in Chandigarh. We see a great market for our menu in the city, particularly among youngsters.”

He informed that with the opening in Chandigarh, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China now has 14 outlets across Mumbai (seven), Pune (three), Kolkatta (one), UAE (one) and Oman (one), all established within a short span of two years. Regarding expansion plans, he ventured that plans are afoot to open outlets in all prominent cities in the country, besides spreading abroad with two more upcoming in Dubai.

Expansion in Chandigarh tricity and other states in the region will follow the success of this Chandigarh outlet, he added.

Revealing that Asia Kitchen – By Mainland China in Chandigarh has an extensive Oriental Asian menu, Chef Ram Chander, Brand Chief Culinary Officer, asserted that and at least 40 items being served are not available anywhere in the city.

Where: Asia Kitchen, 3rd floor, Nexus Elante Mall, Chandigarh

Timings: Open for Lunch and Dinner

Meal for two: Approx. Rs. 1600+Tax

 

Why did Mainland China close in Chandigarh

According to Nripendra Chauhan, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China, along the way, the parent company SRL decided to discontinue with its franchise businesses across the country on the expiry of existing franchise contracts. Now all our outlets are company owned.

Chocolate Dome
Drums Of Heaven Hong Kong Style

About SRL

Speciality Restaurants Limited (SRL) is one of India’s leading hospitality companies, reputed for its diverse portfolio of fine and casual dining brands across India and Dubai. In addition to its restaurant chains, SRL also owns and operates a range of premium confectionery stores.

Headquartered in Mumbai with a registered office in Kolkata, the company has an established presence in 25 cities across three countries.

Founded in 1992 by Anjan Chatterjee, Speciality Restaurants began its journey with its first restaurant, Only Fish, in Mumbai. Building on its early success, the company introduced two iconic brands — Oh! Calcutta and Mainland China — in 1994, with the first Mainland China outlet opening in Saki Naka, Mumbai.

SRL is publicly listed on both the BSE and NSE.

Brands

Its long list of hospitality brands: Mainland China, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China, Oh! Calcutta, Sweet Bengal, Dariole, Riyasat, Jungle Safari, Flame & Grill, Sigree Global Grill, Café Mezzuna, Siciliana by Mezzuna, Episode One, Bohoba, Walters, Gong, Chaurangi, Bizarre Asia, Hoppipol, Haka.

Japanese Mushroom And Cream Cheese Gyoza
Japanese Yellow Curry With Smbal Chilli And Baby Spinach
Mango Pudding
Pickled Pepper Chicken
Spicy Basil & Chilli Cottage Cheese Noodle
Sushi Boat Veg

On Aussie Tour, It’s Advantage India, As Hosts Cope With Retirements, Injuries

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Mitchell Starc back in ODI squad to spearhead Aussie pace attack
India to play three ODIs, followed by 5 T20Is
First tour match in Perth on October 19

As Australia on Tuesday announced their white-ball squads for the upcoming three ODI matches and the first two of the five T20Is in the home series against India beginning on October 19, the visiting world No. 1 ranked team will be fancying its chances as the hosts cope with injuries and a series of retirements from both formats.

Mitchell Marsh will once again lead the Aussies in both formats in the absence of regular captain and premier bowler Pat Cummins, who is continuing his recovery from a recurring lumbar bone stress and has apparently been kept out of the series to manage his workload carefully in preparation for a crucial Ashes campaign later in the Aussie summer.

Though their strike left-arm bowler Mitchell Starc and key batter Matt Short return to the international fold to take on a strong India line-up for the ODIs that includes batting greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the Aussie 50-over side is in the process of rebuilding ahead of the 2027 World Cup following the recent retirements of Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.

The workload of Mitchell Starc, who retired from T20Is last month, is also being carefully managed ahead of the Ashes series. He sat out the series against South Africa in August after returning from the West Indies Test tour.

Maxwell could also miss the entire T20 series after surgery last week on a fractured wrist suffered during training in the lead up to the New Zealand series.

Starc and Short’s return is among four changes to Australia’s ODI side that took on South Africa last month, with uncapped duo Matt Renshaw and Mitchel Owen also earning recalls to the side that lost the series 2-1 to the Proteas, filling up middle order roles.

Dropping out of the ODI squad are Aaron Hardie, Matthew Kuhnemann and Marnus Labuschagne, the latter having been left out of the squad to face India after scoring a pair of ones in his two innings against the Proteas.

ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Short, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Renshaw, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

Ins: Mitchell Owen, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc. 

Outs: Aaron Hardie, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne

T20I squad (for first two games): Mitchell Marsh (C), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Ins: Nathan Ellis, Josh Inglis.

Outs: Alex Carey, Josh Philippe

India squads

Earlier, India had named their white-ball squads for the upcoming tour, announcing that red-ball Test captain Shubman Gill will also lead the ODI squad, replacing Rohit Sharma, who, along with Virat Kohli, had retired from Tests and T20Is within the last 12 months.

Both Rohit and Virat will make their return to international cricket during the three-game ODI series against the Aussies after remaining out of action since the ICC Champions Trophy event at the start of the year.

Notable absentees from the India ODI squad that won the Champions Trophy early this year are Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakaravarthy, as well as the injured Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant.

Jasprit Bumrah, who has been included in the T20I squad, also doesn’t feature in the 50-over side, apparently influenced by considerations of his workload management.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy finds a place in both the white-ball squads, while Mohammed Siraj makes a comeback to the ODI side. Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the others to be named in the 15-member ODI squad that will tour Australia.

India ODI squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.

India T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.

Series schedule:

First ODI: October 19, Perth

Second ODI: October 23, Adelaide

Third ODI: October 25, Sydney

First T20I: October 29, Canberra

Second T20I: October 31, Melbourne

Third T20I: November 2, Hobart

Fourth T20I: November 6, Gold Coast

Fifth T20I: November 8, Brisbane

Punjab Farmers Can Learn Modern Methods From Food Powerhouse Netherlands: CM Bhagwant Mann

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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CM inaugurates Rs 150-crore world class animal feed manufacturing plant at Rajpura, built by Netherlands-based global giant De Heus
Accepts invitation to visit Netherlands at the head of a delegation of progressive farmers from Punjab to study best farm practices
Says, despite the death and destruction caused by the recent floods, Punjab is estimated to still contribute 180 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of rice and 125 lakh MT of wheat to the national foodgrains pool
Vows to make Punjab the next industrial hub of the country

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has called for adopting modern methods of farming in the state to keep it sustainable and profitable. Citing the example set by the Netherlands, he said at the earliest possible he will lead a delegation of progressive farmers to the European country, which is the second largest exporter of food products in the world, to learn from its best farm practices.

He was addressing a large gathering after formally inaugurating a Rs 150 crore world class animal feed plant at Rajpura, built by De Heus Amimal Nutrition India, a wholly owned subsidiary of the world’s leading animal feed manufacturing company Royal De Heus of the Netherlands, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal and Bhutan Marisa Gerards. The global and India leadership of De Heus group was also present.

Highlighting several similarities between the Netherlands as a country and Punjab state, he said both have nearly the same area, both have a rich culture of well bonded joint families, and both are agriculture dominated. But he said the small European country, famous for its cheese and other agricultural products, was a also a powerhouse of technology and innovation, and Punjab could learn a lot from it.

Therefore, he announced the acceptance of an invitation extended to him to visit the Netherlands, which he promised he will undertake with progressive farmers at the earliest available time.

Appreciating the pace at which the company had been successful in raising the factory and other infrastructure, exactly two years after he performed its ground-breaking ceremony in October 2023, he expressed confidence that this factory will act as a catalyst for rapid industrialisation of Punjab. Lots and lots of companies are coming to Punjab, and the state will emerge as the next industrial hub of the country, he asserted.

Besides providing employment to the young men and women of Punjab, and revenue to the government, the factory, which will market its high-quality animal feed far and wide, will also benefit small suppliers, channel partners, logistics businesses, etc, he noted.

Commenting on the devastating floods which caused massive loss of life, crops, farmland, infrastructure, etc, he reiterated his government’s strong commitment to help all affected return to normal life. “Punjab has fallen several times in the past, but it has also bounced back several times. So, hand in hand we will rebuild our lives together,” he added.

Striking a note of optimism, he said people will be surprised to know that despite the death and destruction caused by the recent floods, Punjab is estimated to still contribute 180 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of rice and 125 lakh MT of wheat to the national foodgrains pool.

Recollecting the Netherlands as a powerhouse of sports especially in field hockey and soccer, the chief minister said Punjab likewise has had a strong history of excelling in sports and continues to dominate. He reminded the gathering that out of the playing 11 in the Indian national men’s field hockey team nine members were from Punjab. It is also a matter of pride for the state that the current captains of the Indian field hockey team, women’s cricket team and men’s soccer team are from Punjab, he added.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal and Bhutan Marisa Gerards said in many ways the story of her country’s resilience and prosperity is quite similar to that of Punjab, rising from death and destruction of war and the vagaries of nature like floods and famine in the spirit of ‘chardi kalan’.

In his heart-to-heart words to the livestock farmers, suppliers and channel partners, Co De Heus, Chairman Board of Royal De Heus, while promising a consistent supply of high-quality animal feed products from the company, assured customers that going beyond mere sale of products De Heus will look to strike lasting relationships with all stakeholders.

Expressing solidarity with the people who had lost near and dear ones, crops, farmland and livestock in the devastating floods, he said the company experts will reach out to the livestock owners with their knowledge and expertise to help them care for their surviving livestock.

The new factory has an installed capacity of 1.8 lakh metric tons (MT) of animal feed, expandable to 2.4 lakh MT. It features two dedicated production lines – one for cattle and buffalo feed, and another for poultry and pig feed.

Equipped with state-of-the-art European technology and automated processes, the plant will manufacture a comprehensive range of products including compound feed, premixes, concentrates and speciality feeds.

According to the senior company officials, De Heus’ animal feed products come complete with nutrition essential for the growth and production of animals, supporting their optimal development. This helps keep the animals healthy with improved reproductive cycles and consistent production, enabling the farmers to increase farm incomes and profitability.

The Rajpura facility is expected to generate over 300 direct jobs and create opportunities for hundreds of local suppliers and channel partners. With raw materials sourced domestically, the factory will also stimulate regional agri-businesses.

The plant will cater to markets across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

From the company side among others present at the inauguration were Rolinda De Heus, MD, PhD;  Johan van der Ban, CEO Asia; Arno Willemink, Group COO; Rutger Oudejans, MD India; Tanveer Malik, COO India; and Amit Mittan, Commercial Director India.

Parivartan Ka Utsav ‘Udaan’ An Attempt By TiE Chandigarh To Celebrate Woman Entrepreneurship

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Women mentors of TiE Chandigarh pose for a photograph at a media meet held in Chandigarh on Tuesday (16.09.2025).

If a greater number of women are succeeding in their entrepreneurial endeavours despite continuing challenges like financial hurdles, skill gaps, societal barriers, and fear of failure, etc. it is something to be celebrated, the aim being to encourage others to take the plunge and further strengthen the ecosystem around them for success.

With this resolve, the Chandigarh chapter of TiE, the world’s largest community of entrepreneurs, is hosting its flagship programme “Parivartan Ka Utsav – Udaan’ of women entrepreneurs at Chandigarh Club on September 19.

Addressing a media event in Chandigarh on Tuesday, Pooja Nayar, Chair – TiE Women Chandigarh, Prerna Kalra, Isha Taneja and Ritika Singh shared that “Parivartan ka Utsav – Udaan signifies transformation, empowerment, and the rise of women as changemakers. The theme reflects a shift in mindset, recognizing women not just as participants but as leaders driving innovation, building enterprises, and contributing to the economy.

“Through powerful pitches, stories of resilience, and a showcase of women-led ventures, the evening aims to inspire collaboration, strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and accelerate the impact of women entrepreneurs on society and business,” they added.

The showcase at the event will feature booths put up by 35 women-led startups in various fields like coaching, organic beauty products, sustainability, jewellery, perfumes, etc.

The evening will begin with a special conversation featuring Ms. Divita Juneja, actress & entrepreneur; and Ms. Himani Arora, Founder, Studio Himani Arora, to be moderated by Ms. Opinder Kaur Gill, entrepreneur & community builder.

Ms. Gurpreet Kaur Deo, the first woman IPS officer of Punjab cadre, will be the distinguished speaker, and there will be panel discussions on “Leap of Faith: From Side Hustle to Sustainable Business” featuring  Nanki Aurora Singh, Founder – The Secret Ice Cream Society; Ritu Kochhar, Founder – Inter National Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD);  Akshina Jindal, Founder & CEO – Bubble Me, to be moderated by Tanushree Gupta, Co-Chair TiE Women & Founder – Think People First.

Adding another dimension to the evening, Shuchi Singh, Dance Movement Therapist, will present an experiential session titled “Power of Movement”, highlighting how expression and resilience come alive through dance, creativity, and the body’s natural rhythm.

Listing out some of TiE’s regular programs, Pooja Nayar said to catch them young, TiE under its Young Entrepreneurs Program (TYE) is helping foster entrepreneurship mindset among school students of classes 9 – 12.

TiE University program enhances college learning with mentoring by real life entrepreneurs, bootcamps, workshops, internships, local and global networking and access to funding sources. TiE University (TiE U) supports college startups and founders in transforming their entrepreneurial ideas into viable, sustainable businesses. The program facilitates this growth by organizing events and engagements that connect startups with TiE members, external mentors, coaches, and ecosystem partners, fostering a collaborative environment for innovation.

TiE Women is another initiative by TiE dedicated to supporting and encouraging women entrepreneurs by providing them with mentorship, resources, and a strong network. This initiative aligns with TiE’s broader mission to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs and build an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For more about TiE Chandigarh: https://chandigarh.tie.org/

Bhullar Wards Off Young Challengers To Win Maiden IGPL Tour’s Inaugural Tournament In Chandigarh

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
Top professional golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar kisses the trophy after winning the inaugural tournament of the maiden new format IGPL Tour at the Chandigarh Golf Club on Friday (12.09.2025). PHOTOS Credit: IGPL

Top professional golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar had to dig deep into his nearly two decades experience to ward of a strong challenge from younger golfers to win the first tournament of the inaugural new and faster format no-cut all-players-get-paid Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Tour on home turf at the 18-hole Chandigarh Golf Club course on Friday.

An early eagle (2-under par for a particular hole) and a late birdie (1-under par) saw Bhullar card a 2-under 70 (par 72) in the final round of the three-round tournament to become the first IGPL Invitational champion.

Winner of 11 Asian Tour titles, the most by an Indian, the pro had three great rounds of 70-71-70 for a 5-under total, which was remarkable considering that the course was challenging and difficult to score on despite the host club having nursed it to good shape after weeks of heavy to very heavy rains.

He finished two shots clear of second placed M Dharma, the man who has won on many tours. Dharma shot 70-75-68. In the final round he played a remarkable 5-under on the back nine holes, but his two bogeys on the front nine cost him dearly.

Bhullar carried home a cheque of Rs 22.50 lakhs from the whopping overall prize purse of Rs 1.5 crores. Dharma got richer by Rs 15 lakhs.

The sole leader of the first round and tied first with Bhullar at the end of the second round, Shaurya Binu (69-72-73) finished tied third with south paws Veer Ganapathy (72-72-70), son of former pro and now coach Rahul Ganapathy, and Kartik Sharma (73-73-68). For their feat, they earned a purse of Rs 8.7 lakh each.

Another young player, Neil Jolly and the experienced Kapil Kumar were tied sixth at 1-under for the week as only seven players returned under par over the three rounds. Three players, Dharma, Kartik and Sunhit Bishnoi (75-73-68 for 8th place) produced 4-under 68 rounds.

Kartik Singh, who at various stages this week indicated that he could be the next big star, finally finished tied ninth alongside Aman Raj, Sanju Kumar, Sachin Baisoya, Harendra Gupta and Pukhraj Singh Gill.

Jahanvi Bakshi, making a comeback after two years of injuries, was the top woman finisher, 19th overall in a 54-strong mixed field, a first for any tour, with rounds of 73-71-75. The field had 38 men pros, 10 women pros and six amateurs.

Gaganjeet Bhullar in action

Apparently delighted with the outcome of the first tournament of the inaugural IGPL Tour, its CEO Uttam Singh Mundy commented: “We can be assured that there is a good crop of young stars emerging. I was very happy to see the likes of Veer Ganapathy, Kartik Singh, Krish Chawla, Raghav Chugh and others rise to the occasion. It became even more creditable as Veer, Kartik and Raghav took a big step in their lives by turning pro this week and they showed that they belonged among the professionals.”

All praise for the new format IGPL, Bhullar remarked: “It marks the beginning of a new chapter in Indian golf, and I am proud to be part of it. The Tour has been created with a lot of care and brings together women pros, young pros and amateurs onto the same platform as the top pros. This will help them and hopefully I can inspire some of these youngsters, just like Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal and other seniors inspired me.”

He however observed that “Right now, we have very few Indians on Asian Tour with a Tour card. There was a time when we had more than a dozen Indians and a lot of wins came India’s way. I hope the new stars like Veer Ganapathy, Kartik Singh, Krish Chawla and even Shaurya Binu, and others we saw this week will soon get onto the Asian Tour. It’s always great to win, that’s what we pros play for, but to get these young ones to fly the Indian flag high is my goal and a big motivation.”

The next tournament of the 11-event IGPL Tour will be held at the Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida, from September 17 to 19.

IGPL Tour Kicks Off In Chandigarh Golf Club – It’s Not Quiet, Slow, But A Whole New Fast And Electric Format

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Legendary sixer-king Yuvraj Singh, now an avid golfer, is at the heart of the league as its co-founder and brand ambassador
For the first time ever, the league will have a mixed format with top women pros competing shoulder to shoulder with the top men pros; amateurs too get to compete with them
Whopping total purse of Rs 1.5 crore purse up for grabs in each tournament on the tour
Fun quotient for non-golfers & non-club members: Expect each of the three days packed with fun games, live entertainment, delicious food, and drinks

It could just be the defining moment for golf in India, just as Indian Premier League (IPL) proved to be for cricket. The opening edition of the multi-city Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), a tour of 11 tournaments, which kicks off with its inaugural three-day invitational at the Chandigarh Golf Club from September 10, will have all the ingredients of a thriller with three blockbuster formats and the legendary sixer-king Yuvraj Singh, now an avid golfer, at the heart of it as the league’s co-founder and brand ambassador.

As the great Indian cricket allrounder puts it: “It’s not going to be quiet, it’s not going to be slow. It’ll be golf reimagined – exciting, bold, unforgettable! It’ll be sport with personality, music, movement and moments that go viral! We’re building new heroes, men, women, amateurs, pros. We’re building something India has never seen before, India’s golf revolution! X-golf format, fast, electric, built for today’s generation!”

For the first time ever, the league will have a mixed format with women pros competing shoulder to shoulder with men pros with a few amateurs too getting to play with the best in the field.

Addressing a media meet at the Chandigarh Golf Club a day prior to tee-off of the inaugural league invitational, IGPL CEO Uttam Mundy along with other officials associated with the league informed that the league features 48 top pro golfers – 36 men and 12 women – along with six promising amateurs.

Usually there are four-day leagues, but this one is of three-day duration.

So, what the big deal! Golf in India has always been niche, a little traditional, a little quiet. IGPL is here to shake that up, making it bigger, faster, more inclusive and more fun to watch. Here’s what sets IGPL apart: Normally there are two rounds in any golf tournament or championship. If you do not make the cut at the end of the first round, you pack your bags and go home without a penny by way of prize money.

Officials associated with IGPL Invitational 2025 Chandigarh pose with the golf league trophy at the Chandigarh Golf Club on Tuesday, PHOTOS By: LifeInChandigarh.com

IGPL says, not any longer. In every three-day tournament on the tour there is no cut. In this league every participant plays from start to finish, and every player gets paid. That’s guaranteed. And it’s a fat total prize money in each of the 11 events which will last till December – a whopping Rs 1.5 crore.

Women golfers will not be in the sidelines. They will be right in the thick of it vying for the same purse as their male competitors.

Fun in it for non-golfers & non-club members too

Beyond the greens and fairways, expect a day packed with fun games, live entertainment, delicious food, and drinks that keep the vibes alive. Whether you are a golf lover, or just in it for a great time, this inaugural event promises sport, style, and unforgettable energy.

Gamechanger, new era for golf

IGPL poster showcasing top golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar and IGPL co-founder and brand ambassador, the legendary sixer king Yuvraj Singh.

Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of India president Romit Bose while appreciating the new initiative has said: “IGPL is not a league, it’s a launchpad for Indian golf talent. It’ll prove to be a gamechanger – new league, new heroes and a new era for Indian golf.”

Indian Golf Union (IGU) Secretary General Maj. Gen. (retd) Bibhuti Bhushan too while hailing the IGPL as the only official golf league in the country said it will take the sport beyond big cities and into the heart of Tier 2 & Tier 3 India.

Among others present at the media meet were star golfers Gaganjeet Bhullar, Aadil Bedi, Neha Tripathi, Chandigarh Golf Club president Ravibir Singh and captain of the course Mohan Bir Singh.

Expressing their solidarity and support for victims of the devastating floods in Punjab, the IGPL management and individual participating golfers committed contributions for the flood relief efforts.

A Modified Hot Glue Gun Shows Promise Of Mending Broken Bones With 3D Printing Process

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
A biodegradable glue that encourages bones to repair themselves can be applied during surgery using a hot glue gun, potentially offering a cheap and quick way to treat injuries, preclinical research has shown, as reported in the journal Device.

New preclinical research, reported in the journal Device, has shown that with slight modifications, hot glue guns commonly used in arts and crafts can repair damaged bones quickly and cheaply.

An article carried by www.newscientist.com, bones can repair themselves after small injuries, but if there is a void – because of serious trauma or tumour removal, for example – then that space needs to be filled with either a graft or an artificial plug made of a material that encourages bone cells to spread.

One solution is to use 3D printers to create perfectly-fitting scaffolds to fill such voids, but this requires scanning and remote fabrication – a process taking at least a week. That is fine for a pre-planned operation to fix a worn-out joint, for example, but not for emergency trauma surgery, the newscientist.com article explained.

To solve this problem, Jung Seung Lee at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea and his colleagues have developed a system that can be applied instantly during a single surgery.

They modified a hot glue gun by reducing the temperature at which it operates from over 100°C to around 60°C. They also concocted a material that acts as a biological glue – a mixture of hydroxyapatite, which makes up 50 per cent of the volume of normal human bones, and a biodegradable thermoplastic called polycaprolactone.

Surgeons can use the hot glue gun to fill bone voids in a matter of minutes during surgery and bone cells are then able to span the gap and permanently repair the injury over time.

“It is basically made of commercially available hot glue guns,” says Lee. “We can save time and cost.”

For more details visit:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2494243-a-modified-hot-glue-gun-can-mend-broken-bones/

Modified Glue Gun Delivers Personalized Fracture Treatment

https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/precision-medicine/modified-glue-gun-delivers-personalized-fracture-treatment/

Chandigarh Golf League’s Newest Team GB Legends Announces Major Mentorship Program

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
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 of 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.

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.

The talented achievers who have been taken under the wings of the mentorship program of Chandigarh Golf League’s newest franchise team GB Legends.

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.

Hello High School Grads! HCLTech Brings TechBee Program To Chandigarh, Adjoining States – Earn While You Learn

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
Subbaraman Balasubramanyan, Senior Vice President, HCLTech, addressing a press meet in Chandigarh on Tuesday (26.08.2025). PHOTO By: LifeInChandigarh.com
Skill, earn and pursue graduation, post-graduation for rewarding careers in tech industry

Maths and non-Maths high school graduates, here’s a great opportunity for you to enrol for a ‘earn while you learn’ early career program that blends hands-on technology training with access to higher education, preparing you for global careers in technology industry.

HCLTech, a leading global technology company, on Tuesday announced its TechBee Early Career Program for high school graduates in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, touting it as a transformative initiative that will equip students with industry-relevant skills while simultaneously enabling them to pursue academic advancement.

“HCL’s TechBee is more than a skilling initiative—it’s a launchpad for ambitious youth to build meaningful careers in tech,” shared Subbaraman Balasubramanyan, Senior Vice President, HCLTech, while interacting with select media persons in Chandigarh.

“HCLTech’s strategic partnerships with institutions such as BITS Pilani, IIT Guwahati, IIIT Kottayam, IIM Sirmaur, Sastra University, Amity University Online, allow trainees to pursue higher education online from their work locations, reducing relocation costs and fostering financial independence.”

There two parts to the TechBee early career program – for high school graduates with Maths/Business Maths as a subject to be considered for IT roles, and high school graduates without Maths/Business Maths as a subject to be considered for process roles in the IT industry like front office and back office.

The enrolment for the program works like this:

  • Those residents of India are eligible who have successfully completed Class XII state or central board exams in 2024 or 2025.
  • For IT roles Maths/Business Maths is mandatory with minimum 65% marks in board exams in case of state boards in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh and 70% in case of CBSE & ISC boards.
  • Selection process: Candidates visit hcltechbee.com and complete the application process; they then undergo a HCL CAT, a basic career aptitude test consisting of quantitative and logical reasoning; as a third step applicants go through a face-to-face interaction with HCLTech selection committee to prove their mettle; a Versant test of language abilities, including English speaking, rounds off the selection process. Candidates with 80 percentile and above in IIT/JEE mains (2024 and 2025) are exempt from HCL CAT. They directly appear for Versant and interview.
  • Those candidates who make the cut are enrolled after paying a program training fee – Rs 1.4 lakh (all inclusive) for IT roles and Rs 51,000 (all inclusive) for process roles. Candidates are given a choice of getting training between three existing centres – Lucknow, Vijayawada and Madurai. A fourth centre is expected to be opened soon in Noida. Trainees are expected to make their own arrangements for accommodation. Training typically lasts about six months for IT roles and three months for process roles.
  •  Many state govts provide subsidy in skill training fee under their youth skilling missions, like the Punjab has the Punjab Skill Development Mission (PSDM). For others TechBee has tied up with banks for providing loans.
  • TechBee claims to provide the best-in-class industry-certified training for entry-level job roles in software development, analytics, design & data engineering, product design, and as support and process associates.
  • Those who for some reason are unable to cope up with the training are reimbursed their program training fee.
  • After successful completion of training, candidates are placed in the various HCLTech projects as interns, during which period they also start getting a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 for sustenance. Selected scholars also get an opportunity to get involved in on-site projects as per business demand.
  • After internship, entry level IT jobs are assured with HCLTech with starting salaries ranging from Rs 1.96 lakh – Rs 2.2 lakh per annum with additional medical and other benefits.
  • Recognising and understanding the importance of higher education, HCLTech has partnered with select institutions of higher learning like BITS Pilani, IIT Guwahati, IIIT Kottayam, IIM Sirmaur, Sastra University, Amity University Online, where the eligible high school graduates can enrol for online work-integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree courses while continuing to work for the company. HCLTech also partially funds the course fee negotiated for various courses with these institutions.

About HCLTech

HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 2,23,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centred around digital, engineering, cloud and artificial intelligence, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. It works with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for financial services, manufacturing, life sciences and healthcare, technology and services, telecom and media, retail and CPG (consumer packaged goods), and public services.

Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending March 2025 totalled $ 13.8 billion, as per a company brochure.

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