Jaipur, Oct 22 (NationPress) Olympian Udayan Mane and Vani Kapoor, recognized for her exceptional performance on the domestic Tour among all active Indian women professionals, are set to make their debut at the IGPL Tour in Jaipur this week. The Tour is visiting the Pink City for the IGPL Invitational Jaipur after successful events in Chandigarh, Jaypee Greens Noida, and Pune.

The Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur has proven to be a fruitful venue for numerous players competing this week.

Mane, who represented India at the Tokyo Olympics, clinched his inaugural professional title at the Rambagh Club a decade ago. With fond memories of Jaipur, he anticipates a rewarding week ahead. Additionally, two other competitors, Aman Raj (twice) and Sachin Baisoya, have also achieved victories in Jaipur. “Years ago, in her early pro career, Vani narrowly missed a win after losing in a play-off in Jaipur. 'I need to improve on that and perhaps secure a victory this week. Competing alongside male professionals adds to the excitement,'” Vani expressed.

Both Mane, a former Order of Merit titleholder on the Indian Tour, and Vani Kapoor are part of a 54-player lineup, which consists of 36 male professionals, 12 female professionals, and six amateurs.

Mane remarked, “Jaipur holds fantastic memories for me. Winning my first pro event here is unforgettable, and I cherish the city. There's so much to explore, but our primary focus is the golf. It’s a beautifully challenging course, and I can’t wait to play.”

Baisoya, who secured a title at this venue last year on the Indian Tour, aims to claim an IGPL title in Jaipur. Aman Raj, who has also recovered from injury, boasts two wins at Rambagh – one in 2023 and another in 2018. “Naturally, it’s one of my favorite courses with two victories here,” Aman Raj stated, eager for his first win on the IGPL Tour.

Vani Kapoor, the head of the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI), has already celebrated four victories this year in the WGAI. Recently, she finished in the Top 10 at the Hero Women’s Indian Open and was Tied-sixth in Germany earlier this season.

She is excited to join the IGPL, which has already showcased talents like Hitaashee Bakshi, Sneha Singh, Durga Nittur, and others. Vani noted, “This course is wonderful, and the city is delightful. Competing alongside male professionals will be fantastic, and I appreciate this innovative concept.”

Alongside Vani, the lineup features Amandeep Drall and Sneha Singh, both of whom are multiple WGAI winners this year.

Meanwhile, the stakes are high for several professionals ranked near the top of the IGPL Rankings.

Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL, stated, “The competition is strong, despite some players like Gaganjeet Bhullar and Karandeep Kochhar participating in the International Series in the Philippines. Recent weeks have shown that players like Kapil Kumar, Kartik, Sachin Baisoya, and Pukhraj Singh Gill are all poised for victory. Kapil won in Pune, and the others are eager to follow suit. 'The race for the IGPL Order of Merit is heating up, with multiple players having the opportunity to surpass Bhullar at the top.'”

Kapil, who celebrated his first professional title at the IGPL Pune, has the chance to surpass the current Merit List leader, Gaganjeet Bhullar, who has been active on the Asian Tour after winning the first two events at Chandigarh Golf Club and Jaypee Greens.

Kapil has already earned Rs. 29,93,925. A win this week, valued at Rs. 22.50 lakh, could elevate him above Bhullar’s Rs. 45 lakh.

Another contender who could reach the top with a win is the young prodigy, Kartik Singh, who has Rs. 28,71,557.

The Rambagh Golf Club, established in 1944, is a challenging 18-hole, Par-70 championship course located within the historic Rambagh Palace, once home to the Maharaja of Jaipur, and boasts a rich history.