The announcement was marked with a special unveiling of the CEO Cup winner’s trophy, world’s largest and heaviest gold sports trophy designed by India-based Guinness World Record holder, Amit Pabuwal at Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur. The cup is larger than the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy and will be flown back to the USA where it will be permanently housed.
Designed by renowned sculptor Amit Pabuwal, based in Jaipur, India, the iGATE CEO Cup trophy is 21-inches-tall and one-and-half times bigger than the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy. It is a priceless creation made with 8.6 kilograms of gold and emblazoned with diamonds and rubies.
On the special unveiling of the iGATE CEO Cup, Guinness World Record holder Amit Pabuwal said, "Designing record-breaking masterpieces that create history has been my passion. For a prestigious corporate event like the iGATE CEO Cup, such a magnificent trophy is befitting. This is not just the world's most extravagant trophy but also a world treasure and a piece of heritage for generations to preserve. History has been created."
Pabuwal is distinguished for his work, creating one-of-a-kind trophies for many sporting events. He holds the world’s highest credentials in trophy making while crafting several world cups, acclaimed for their design and workmanship. Most notably, he designed the world’s first Guinness world-record silver trophy Trilok Rachna.
Commenting on the tournament, Gary Player, said, "The iGATE CEO Cup has created a thrilling format for a charitable tournament with CEOs representing many of the world's top companies playing for a noble cause. Following the inaugural iGATE CEO Cup earlier this year, I am happy to continue my involvement as the tournament now moves to Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, and include an international field of CEOs from across the globe.”
In 2014, the iGATE CEO Cup will have a global scope as CEOs of Global 2000 companies will be invited to compete for total prize money of $120,000, with the ‘Player of the Tournament’ winning $40,000 - double the amount of the inaugural event. Winners will donate their prize money to the charities of their choice.
“I am looking forward to another successful tournament, and will be interested to see who lifts the world's largest gold trophy in 2014," said Player.
Gary Player, an original inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame, is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers in history. The South African native has won 165 tournaments over his career spanning six decades, including nine major championships on the regular tour, and nine major championships on the Senior Tour. He is one of only five golfers – and the only non-American golfer – to win the coveted career Grand Slam.
Recognized around the globe as the Black Knight and the International Ambassador of Golf, Player is also a renowned golf course architect with over 325 design projects on five continents. Black Knight International, the company founded by his son Marc Player, includes Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, Black Knight Enterprises and The Player Foundation, which has a primary objective of promoting education for underprivileged children around the world.
The World’s Heaviest and Largest Gold Trophy
The iGATE CEO Cup winner’s trophy is the world’s largest and heaviest gold trophy, designed by India-based Guinness World Record holder, Amit Pabuwal. A priceless creation, the 21-inches-tall iGATE CEO Cup is one and one-half times bigger than the FIFA World Cup trophy - the largest trophy so far. The trophy is made with 8.6 kilograms of gold and emblazoned with diamonds and rubies.
The Venue
Located in the North Carolina heartland, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, established in 1895, is a 2,000-acre property featuring an award-winning spa, eight golf courses, tennis, and activities for the family. Widely known as the cradle of American golf, Pinehurst has hosted more single golf championships than any other site in America, including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup Matches, TOUR Championship and many others. It will serve as the site of both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships in 2014.
The inaugural iGATE CEO Cup Golf Tournament, held in January this year, at TPC® Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., hosted CEOs from North American companies, awarding $100,000 to the winners’ favorite charities. Autotrader’s ex-CEO Chip Perry was the winner of the first event, donating his prize money of $20,000 to Watauga (N.C.) Humane Society.
About iGATE
iGATE Corporation is the first integrated technology and operations (iTOPS) company providing full-spectrum consulting, technology and business process outsourcing, and product and engineering solutions on a Business Outcomes-based model. Armed with over three decades of IT Services experience and powered by the iTOPS platform, iGATE’s multi-location global organization has a talent pool of more than 28,500 employees and consistently delivers effective solutions to over 300 companies including Fortune 1000 clients spanning verticals such as: banking and financial services; insurance and healthcare; life sciences; manufacturing, retail, distribution and logistics; media, entertainment, leisure and travel; energy and utilities; public sector; and independent software vendors. Please visit www.iGATE.com for more information.
iGATE Corporation is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "IGTE."
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About Gary Player
Gary Player, often referred to as the Black Knight, symbolizes all that world class golf is or was ever intended to be. Celebrating his 60th anniversary as a professional golfer in 2013, Player is a champion in every sense of the word. He has won 165 professional tournaments worldwide, and through the philanthropic efforts of The Player Foundation generated over $50 million dollars for the education of underprivileged children. Player, a master of the game, and a world leader in golf course design is credited with shaping more than 325 courses worldwide.
When Gary Player won the US Open in 1965 at age 29, he became only the third golfer to win the Grand Slam, following Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Since then, only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have added their names to this elite group. Player has, to date, won nine major championships on the regular PGA Tour and nine on the Senior or Champions Tour. He is a three time President’s Cup Captain and in 2000 received South Africa’s Sportsman of the Century Award.
In addition to his 40 years of golf course design, Player currently serves as the Global Ambassador to the World Golf Hall of Fame and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Andrews University. His legendary career and humanitarian endeavors have been acknowledged by numerous awards, including the 2012 PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2006 PGA Tour Payne Stewart Award, and the 2003 Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Player has circled the globe in pursuit of sporting events, and after journeying over 15 million miles, or 25 million kilometers, he is widely recognized as The World’s Most Traveled Athlete™. When not traveling to or from sporting events, Player divides his time between the South African stud farm, where he has bred over 2000 winning thoroughbred race horses, and his residence on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound, Florida.