Governor’s Cup Golf Tournament to commence today
Garhwal Post Bureau
Nainital, 29 May: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) addressed the curtain raiser event of the Governor’s Cup Golf Tournament at the Raj Bhavan, here, on Thursday. He announced that the 20th Governor’s Cup Golf Tournament will be held from 30 May to 1 June. A total of 177 golfers from across the country have registered to participate in this prestigious tournament. Adding to the excitement, the tournament will feature renowned personalities like Amit Luthra, Asian Games (Golf) gold medallist and Arjuna Awardee; and Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee Zafar Iqbal, former captain of the Indian Hockey Team.
The Governor stated that this year’s tournament includes participants ranging from 6-year-old children to 80-year-old super veterans. Specifically, the tournament features 6 players in the Super Veteran category (above 75 years), 32 in the Veteran category (65 to 75 years), 95 in the general category, 11 women golfers, and 33 junior golfers (19 boys and 14 girls), reflecting the growing enthusiasm and passion for the sport across all age groups.
The Governor emphasised that the primary goal of the tournament is to promote tourism in Nainital and to ensure active participation from women, youth, and the general public. He noted that the natural beauty of the Raj Bhavan Golf Course attracts golfers from across India. While participating in the tournament, players also help promote the natural and touristic appeal of Uttarakhand. As a unique initiative, the 18 holes of the golf course have been named after famous Himalayan mountain ranges and rivers, offering players a cultural experience and highlighting the rich heritage of the state.
The Governor noted the increasing enthusiasm for the tournament each year. He also mentioned efforts to connect school children with golf. Recently, an inter-school golf tournament and training camp were organised, at which many students, including girls, actively participated. He added that the area surrounding the Raj Bhavan Golf Course is also ideal for bird watching, with over 160 bird species adding to the natural charm of the venue.
The Governor remarked, “The sacred land of Uttarakhand, known as Devbhoomi, is now progressing towards becoming ‘Khelbhoomi’ – a land of sports.” He highlighted several initiatives taken by the state government to develop sports infrastructure, provide scholarships, training, and competitive opportunities to athletes. In the recently held 38th National Games, Uttarakhand athletes brought pride to the state by winning over 100 medals.
The Governor extended special thanks to the sponsors supporting this year’s tournament. Prominent sponsors include Indian Oil, Tourism Development Council, Uttarakhand Sports Department, ONGC, Hero Group, SIDCUL, Aditya Birla Group, Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, Milton Group, SBI, THDC, Trident, Graphic Era University, UPES University, and DIT University.
Colonel Vivek Bhatt, Captain of the Raj Bhavan Golf Club, stated that the tournament will span three days, featuring 177 golfers across categories such as Super Veteran, Veteran, General, Women, and Junior. The event will be inaugurated by the Governor with a ceremonial tee-off at 8:30 a.m. on 30 May.
Present on the occasion were the Governor’s Secretary Ravinath Raman, Additional Secretary Swati S. Bhadauria, Aide-de-Camp Amit Srivastava, Major Sumit Kumar, Financial Controller Dr Tripti Srivastava, and Joint Director, Information Department, Dr Nitin Upadhyay.
