SAIL-SBI OPEN PRESENTED BY INCREDIBLE INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM RETURNS FOR ITS SEVENTH EDITION

LAHIRI AND SIDDIKUR LEAD A STRONG FIELD

New Delhi, February 24, 2014: The SAIL-SBI Open presented by Incredible India Ministry of Tourism returning for its seventh edition in India will mark the beginning of the 2014 Asian Tour season. The US$ 300,000 tournament will be staged at the venerable Delhi Golf Club from February 26 - March 1, 2014. The Pro-Am event is scheduled for February 25.

The Steel Authority of India Ltd and State Bank of India are the main sponsors of India’s second-longest running international tournament. The tournament is supported by Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).  

The strong field will feature five players from the top-10 of last year’s Order of Merit. The Indian contingent will be spearheaded by defending champion Anirban Lahiri who finished third on the Asian Tour last year. Bangladesh’s Md Siddikur Rahman, who bagged fourth place on the 2013 Order of Merit, will be the other top contender this year.

Last year, Lahiri defeated countryman Rashid Khan in a playoff to claim his third Asian Tour title at the SAIL-SBI Open. It was also his third victory at the Delhi Golf Club, which has proven to be a happy hunting ground for the talented Lahiri.

Former Order of Merit champions Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand and India’s Jyoti Randhawa, who finished in the top-20 last year, will also be back to challenge for the SAIL-SBI Open title at a venue where they have tasted victory in the past.

Besides Lahiri, the other past winners of the tournament competing at this year’s edition are Chapchai Nirat of Thailand and Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg.

Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Prom Meesawat along with Korean Baek Seuk-Hyun, all of whom finished in the top-10 in Asia last year, add further muscle to the field.

The Indian challenge will be strengthened by the presence of former Asian Tour winners SSP Chowrasia, Digvijay Singh, Rahil Gangjee and Himmat Singh Rai. Rashid Khan, the 2013 SAIL-SBI Open runner-up and reigning Rolex Rankings champion on the PGTI, will once again be a force to reckon with on his home course.

Mr. C S Verma, Chairman, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), said, “We seek to promote Indian professional golf by staging tournaments such as the SAIL-SBI Open. With SAIL steadily increasing its global presence, we are happy to be associated with this event as it attracts participation from all over Asia and other countries. We wish the players all the best and look forward to a fascinating week of golf.”

Mrs. Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman, State Bank of India, said, “We enjoy a very strong relationship with our partner SAIL and are pleased to collaborate with them on the SAIL-SBI Open. The State Bank Group is committed towards promoting sports in India. We are proud to be associated with the SAIL-SBI Open, one of the biggest events on the Indian golfing calendar, which sees Indian professionals compete against the top names in Asia.”

Mr. Anand Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, said, “The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has committed itself to the development of sport in India. We support the growth of golf and golf tourism through active involvement under the “Incredible India” banner. The staging of international tournaments such as the SAIL-SBI Open, help us promote India as an international golfing destination.”

Mr. Kyi Hla Han, Chairman, Asian Tour, said, “On behalf of our players I would like to thanks SAIL and SBI for their sponsorship of this event. As the season opening event for our 2014 season, we look forward to a very successful launch of our new season. I am sure our talented players will put up a great show and compete well against players from the PGTI.”  

Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “The SAIL-SBI Open has been a strong week for Indian professionals on the Asian Tour schedule with the top names in Asia rubbing shoulders with India’s best talent. We are hopeful of good performances by the strong Indian contingent once again. We sincerely offer our appreciation and thanks to SAIL and SBI for continuing their valuable support to Indian professional golf. We also thank the Asian Tour for partnering with the PGTI and look forward to hosting another successful tournament in 2014.”