The Indian team displayed a magnificent performance at the Asia Pacific Championships for Nomura Cup at the Denarau Golf Course in Fiji, leapfrogging to third position. Team India comprising of current Junior National Champion S. Chikkarangappa, recently crowned Bangladesh Men's Champion Khalin Joshi, Asian Games medalist Abhijit Chadha and Chandigarh's Angad Cheema were in third position after three rounds and ended with a podium finish with an aggregate of 211 in the fourth with a final total of 865. The Indian team outperformed Asian giants Korea & Japan, who ended their campaign at the tournament in 4th and 5th positions respectively.
Promising teenage golf sensation, Khalin Joshi, ended his individual campaign at the tournament in the third position. Joshi played a superb four-under 68, his best score of the week for a total of three-under 285 that placed him tied third with Daniel Bringolf of Australia and Ryan Fox of New Zealand.
With an aim to encourage young golf talent to become unrivaled golfers in the world, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd., over the years has lent its support to a number of Junior Golf tournaments across the country. As the reigning Toyota-IGU Inter Club Junior Champion, 19 year old Khalin Joshi has carved a niche for himself on the junior circuit and is working his way up the amateur tour. S.Chikkarangappa is the reigning Toyota-IGU All India Junior Champion who has proved himself time and again with victories at home and internationally.
On the occasion of announcing the 3rd edition of the Toyota Karnataka Golf Festival, Mr.Shekar Vishwanathan, Deputy Managing Director, Commercial, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd., felicitated the young prodigies, for spearheading the Indian victory. Commending the boys on their performance, Mr Vishwanathan said, "We take immense pride in the achievements of two of India's top Amateur Golfers, Khalin Joshi & Chikkarangappa, who did India proud by winning the Bronze medal for the country at Nomura Cup after a gap of 18 long years. It is truly a remarkable achievement for India and it is certainly delightful to see Khalin achieving 3rd position in individual standings, beating all The Asia Pacific Golfers."
Mr. Rishi Narain, Founder, Rishi Narain Golf Management congratulating the team commented "We are glad that India's young promising golfers Khalin and Chikka are being recognized for their accomplishments and fabulous display of skills at the Asia Pacific Nomura Cup. We are confident that these players will raise India's ranking and be potential medal winners in the 2016 Olympics, where golf is to be introduced".
Chikka and Khalin Joshi were part of a four-member Indian which also included Abhijit Chadha, winner of Faldo Series Asia Grand Final and Angad Cheema. The team secured India's first medal finish since 1993, when the team, comprising Amit Luthra, Amritinder Singh, Arjun Singh and Jyoti Randhawa had also won a bronze medal. Team Australia, meanwhile, won the Nomura Cup for a record ninth time with a final round of 201 and a total of 840, while New Zealand finished second at 861 with a final round of 209.
