This week has been perhaps the most impactful week in the history of Indian Golf – never before have so many Indians tuned in to watch a golf telecast for the very first time and tried to understand how the game has played. Also never before has the world media focused so much coverage on the performance of an Indian golfer. There is little doubt that this could be a golden moment for Indian golf – provided the powers that be capitalise on the moment. Indian Golf will only get a boost from this unprecedented awareness if there is bold and sustained action taken.
Future talent development plans and preparation plans for Paris have to be presented by IGU to the ministries. Corporates have to be approached to support our junior programs and promising players. Media interest in golf has to be sustained with issue of regular news and announcements on the progress of stars like Aditi and Anirban and the progress of junior and other pro golfers as well. The golf community, associations and governing bodies of the sport need to recognise this opportunity and seize it.
Over the past few years, golf experts in our country have said that for Indian golf to get recognised an Indian player needs to win a “major”. Well in my opinion this Olympic performance by Aditi has already got more attention than what she would have got if she had won a major on the LPGA tour. Sadly, while golf has benefited a great deal this week, Aditi would certainly be better off winning on the tour – better off by around US$700,000 or Rs 5 crore approximately – the winner’s purse at a women’s major. She gets no money for her 4th place finish in Tokyo and what is worse is that 48 hours after her historic feat, there is no announcement of any financial reward for her by either the Karnataka state government or any other institution. Compare that with Haryana Govt announcing Rs 50 lacs for each of the women’s hockey players hailing from the state who also finished in 4th place and Rs 2.5 crore for bronze medalists from Haryana.
Unlike other athletes, Aditi receives no financial support from any Govt institution, NGO or Corporate to help her pay her way to tournaments around the world for the past 7 years. Her family has invested all their hard earned money to get her to this point where she has brought glory to India and Indian golf. Who is going to step up and support her ?