Historic Win: Aryan Roopa Anand Clinches First IGPL Title in Congo
Synopsis
Mysore-born golfer Aryan Roopa Anand clinched his maiden IGPL title in Congo after a gripping three-hole playoff against Olympian Udayan Mane at the Par-73 Golf de Lubumbashi. The 25-year-old's five consecutive back-nine birdies proved decisive, earning him a career-best Rs. 22,50,000 — a landmark moment for Indian professional golf.
Key Takeaways
Aryan Roopa Anand , 25, from Mysore , won his maiden IGPL Invitational Congo title at Golf de Lubumbashi on April 23, 2025 .
He finished at 16-under par (71-67-65) and defeated Olympian Udayan Mane in a three-hole sudden-death playoff .
Aryan's final round included a remarkable five consecutive birdies from the 11th to 15th holes on the back nine.
The victory earned Aryan Rs.
22,50,000 — the largest single payday of his professional career.
Udayan Mane had won the previous IGPL event in Johannesburg, South Africa , just seven days earlier , making this a high-stakes rematch.
Atri Mumbai leads the IGPL team standings with 270 points , followed by Green Fuels Vizag (220) and RVR Delhi (210) .
Lubumbashi, Congo, April 23: Aryan Roopa Anand, the 25-year-old golfer from Mysore, claimed his first-ever IGPL Invitational Congo title at the Par-73 Golf de Lubumbashi course in Africa on April 23, defeating seasoned Olympian Udayan Mane in a dramatic three-hole sudden-death playoff to pocket a career-best Rs. 22,50,000 in prize money.
Thrilling Playoff Decides Congo Champion
Aryan, representing RVR Delhi, carded a stunning final-round 8-under 65 to finish the tournament at 16-under par with scores of 71-67-65. His back-nine brilliance — five consecutive birdies from the 11th to the 15th hole — looked to have sealed the deal, and an additional birdie on the 17th pushed him to 17-under.
However, a closing bogey on the 18th dropped him back to 16-under, opening the door for Udayan Mane of Atri Mumbai, who dramatically eagled the Par-5 17th and birdied the 18th to level the scores and force a playoff.
After two shared sudden-death holes, Aryan finally prevailed on the third playoff hole, outdueling Mane — a multiple-time winner and the defending IGPL champion who had won the IGPL Trophy in Johannesburg, South Africa, just seven days earlier.
A Breakthrough Moment Years in the Making
Aryan had been knocking on the door of a maiden professional title for several months, having come close on multiple occasions during the previous IGPL season. His best prior result was a T-8 finish in Mauritius, making this Congo victory all the more significant.
"That was a big one and an awesome moment. I played superbly all week and have been doing so for some time," said an emotional Aryan after his landmark win.
He began the final round two strokes behind overnight leader Shaurya Binu of Honer Gurugram, who was at 10-under after two rounds. Both players traded birdies early, but Aryan's five-birdie streak on the back nine proved to be the decisive turning point of the entire tournament.
Leaderboard and Key Performances
Shaurya Binu carded a final-round 68 to finish at 15-under par, claiming third place. Mannat Brar, the top women's finisher, shot an impressive 5-under 68 in the final round to finish tied for fourth at 13-under overall, alongside veterans Aman Raj (66) and early leader Tushar Pannu (68).
Kartik Sharma (65) and Indian-American Manav Shah (69) tied for seventh place at 8-under par, while rookies Kanav Chauhan (69) and Danish Verma (70) rounded out the top ten in tied ninth place.
Aryan's Journey: From Mysore to the Winner's Circle in Africa
Aryan Roopa Anand, son of a telecom specialist and a homemaker, was born and raised in Mysore, where he first picked up a golf club at the age of eight, inspired by watching his father play at the JWGC in Mysore. Although he briefly pursued tennis alongside golf, the fairways ultimately won his heart.
He later relocated to Bangalore to train more seriously at the Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy in Kolar and went on to represent India on the national amateur squad. He turned professional in 2023 and was selected for the inaugural IGPL team, which has since become his competitive home base.
This victory in the remote African city of Lubumbashi on the historic Golf de Lubumbashi course marks not only his first professional title but also his largest single career payday at Rs. 22,50,000.
IGPL Team Standings After Congo Event
Atri Mumbai dominated the team competition with Udayan Mane (70-68-65), Tushar Pannu (67-71-68), and Aman Raj (69-71-66) contributing across all three days, finishing a commanding 32-under par — a massive 13 shots clear of second-placed Flyingman Kolkata, the team owned by tennis legend Leander Paes, which featured Kartik Sharma and Syed Saqib Ahmed.
RVR Delhi received crucial contributions from Aryan Roopa Anand across all three days, with additional support from former Asian Tour winner Chiragh Kumar. In the overall season standings, Atri Mumbai leads with 270 points, followed by Green Fuels Vizag with 220 points and RVR Delhi in third with 210 points.
With the IGPL season still in progress and teams battling for the year-end championship, Aryan Roopa Anand's breakthrough win signals the emergence of a new force in Indian professional golf — and could be the first of many titles for the young Mysore-born star on the global circuit.
Point of View
The emergence of young players like Aryan — trained domestically and competing internationally through platforms like the IGPL — reflects a structural shift in how India is developing sporting talent outside cricket. The IGPL's franchise-based model, reminiscent of the IPL template applied to golf, is clearly creating the competitive pressure that accelerates professional growth. The question now is whether Indian golf's governing bodies will invest proportionally in infrastructure and grassroots development to sustain this momentum.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the IGPL Invitational Congo 2025?
Aryan Roopa Anand of RVR Delhi won the IGPL Invitational Congo 2025 at the Par-73 Golf de Lubumbashi course in Africa. He defeated Olympian Udayan Mane in a three-hole sudden-death playoff, finishing at 16-under par with rounds of 71-67-65.
What is Aryan Roopa Anand's background in golf?
Aryan Roopa Anand is a 25-year-old golfer from Mysore who started playing golf at age eight, inspired by his father. He trained at the Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy in Kolar, represented India on the national amateur squad, and turned professional in 2023.
How did Aryan Roopa Anand win the IGPL Congo title?
Aryan won with a final-round 8-under 65, including five consecutive birdies from the 11th to 15th holes. After a closing bogey forced a playoff with Udayan Mane, Aryan prevailed on the third sudden-death hole to claim the title.
What is the IGPL and how does it work?
The IGPL (Indian Golf Premier League) is a franchise-based professional golf league featuring Indian golfers competing in international events. Teams earn points across events throughout the season, with the two best scorecards counted daily, and the overall team champion decided at season's end.
Which team leads the IGPL 2025 standings after the Congo event?
Atri Mumbai leads the IGPL 2025 overall standings with 270 points after the Congo event. Green Fuels Vizag is second with 220 points, and RVR Delhi — Aryan's team — is third with 210 points.
