Captain Rishi Narain (back row, center) with the APGC team that defeated their European Golf Association counterparts in Spain last year. Narain will once more lead the APGC team in 2025
India Golf Weekly publisher Rishi Narain has once again been appointed as non-playing Captain of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Men’s All-Star 12-man Amateur Squad for the upcoming 2025 Bonallack Trophy, which will play the star-studded European side in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, from January 8-10.
The significance of the Ryder Cup-style team match play competition, The Bonallack Trophy is underscored by the impressive roster of past participants, including notable names like major champions Cameron Smith, Hideki Matsuyama for Asia-Pacific and on the European side has seen the likes of Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and many others.
In tandem with the Bonallack Trophy, Joanne McKee, a veteran golfer from Hong Kong will captain the APGC Ladies All-Star Team for the Patsy Hankins Trophy, which follows a similar format and has also seen star players and major champions in past editions.
Taimur Hassan Amin, Chairman of the APGC, expressed enthusiasm for Narain’s return, stating, “We’re delighted that Rishi and Joanee have accepted our invitations to act as captains for the respective teams for the 2025 Bonallack Trophy and Patsy Hankins Trophy.”
Narain, a veteran of the sport with over four decades of experience in the Indian and Asian golf industry, was part of India’s gold-medal-winning golf team at the 1982 Asian Games and has been a past Indian National Amateur Champion at the Junior, Men’s, and Senior levels. Reflecting on his past captaincy, he remarked, “Captaining the 2023 Bonallack Trophy team to victory was one of the most challenging and enjoyable experiences of my golfing career.”
As anticipation builds for the 2025 Bonallack Trophy, Narain’s leadership and selection of the 12-member Team from among Asia Pacific’s top amateur players will be crucial as the APGC aims to defend the Trophy it won in Spain under Narain, in 2023.
