Ahmedabad, Nov 26 (NationPress) Aman Raj, currently the frontrunner on the IGPL Tour, spearheads the local contingent as the Asian Tour joyously returns to Indian territory for the Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat. This marks the first Asian Tour event held in India since March 2023.

The highly anticipated inaugural Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat takes place at the Kensville Golf Resort in Ahmedabad, co-sanctioned by the IGPL Tour in India.

The Bharath Classic stands as the pinnacle of the IGPL schedule. Triumphing in this prestigious event guarantees the winner Asian Tour playing privileges through 2026 and 2027 and creates avenues towards the lucrative International Series and Liv Golf Tour.

Aman is at the forefront among the top four players from the IGPL Money List. A two-time champion in Jaipur and Kolkata, he is closely followed by the powerful Pukhraj Singh Gill, the IGPL Jamshedpur victor, alongside Sachin Baisoya and young talent Kartik Singh. Another IGPL winner, Kapil Kumar, is also part of the competition.

Baisoya and Kartik have shown remarkable consistency but are still in pursuit of their first IGPL victories.

Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL, expressed excitement about the Asian Tour's return to India. “The Asian Tour has provided the most significant pathway for Indian players to advance in global golf. All our leading stars have emerged through the Asian Tour, so having it back here along with the IGPL Tour is exhilarating. Our players have consistently excelled at home, and this platform is a fantastic opportunity for them to earn their Asian Tour cards.”

Aman Raj, who is determined to return to the Asian Tour next season, sees this event as a crucial stepping stone. “My goal is to lead the IGPL Order of Merit and qualify for the Asian Tour Q-School, but winning this week might be the shortcut I need,” Aman remarked after a practice round. “The course is in excellent condition, with challenging roughs and well-rolling greens. It will be an exciting challenge.”

“The competition is tough, featuring numerous international players, including a strong contingent from Thailand, like Jazz (Janewattananond) and Ekpharit Wu, who recently triumphed in Taiwan. However, our homegrown talent is equally formidable, promising four thrilling days of golf,” Aman added.

Ajeetesh Sandhu, a former Asian Tour champion, also welcomed the tour's return, stating, “It's fantastic to compete in an Asian Tour event in India after such a long hiatus, and I hope to see more tournaments added to the roster. This is a significant opportunity for our players.”

Yuvraj Sandhu, a prolific victor on the domestic circuit, is also aiming to maintain his Asian Tour card as the season concludes. Yuvraj shared, “Competing in an Asian Tour event at home is always a major event, and being on familiar ground is advantageous.” He has had an impressive season on the Indian Tour, securing five wins.

Earlier this year, when Kensville hosted a domestic tournament, IGPL star Yashas Chandra from Mysore finished second and will aim to improve on that this time. Gill, who has performed admirably on the Asian Development Tour, views the Bharath Classic as a gateway to new opportunities.

Young talents like Kartik Singh and Veer Ganapathy, both teenagers making their mark in their rookie professional season, see the Bharath Classic as a tremendous chance to shine early in their careers.

The Kensville Golf Resort is a renowned venue that has previously hosted Challenge Tour events and regularly accommodates domestic competitions.

This tournament is also part of the lucrative IGPL Tour, which has conducted seven events across India to date. It comes at a pivotal time as numerous Asian Tour players, including Indians like Ajeetesh and Yuvraj Sandhu, strive to secure or retain their Asian Tour cards.

Simultaneously, the current IGPL Order of Merit leader, Aman Raj, hopes to return to the Asian Tour with a victory this week.

Among the notable participants are Yuvraj Sandhu, who has claimed multiple titles on the Indian Tour, Shaurya Bhattacharya, and Arjun Prasad, all of whom have tasted success in India. Olympians Udayan Mane and SSP Chawrasia will join them, along with a host of Asian Tour champions such as Ajeetesh Sandhu, Rashid Khan, Khalin Joshi, Viraj Madappa, and former Indian Open champion C Muniyappa, all set to compete this week.