Chandigarh, March 10 (NationPress) Gaganjeet Bhullar, who kickstarted the Indian Golf Premier League with a triumph in its inaugural event in 2025, is set to return to the Chandigarh Golf Club to commence the fresh 2026 season.

Bhullar will spearhead the IGPL Invitational 2026 in Chandigarh, organized by K R I S H N A. As India's most accomplished player on the Asian Tour, with an impressive 11 victories, Bhullar leads a formidable roster that features powerful hitter Pukhraj Singh Gill, who dominated the 2025 IGPL Order of Merit; Asian Tour standout Karandeep Kochhar, who also clinched an IGPL title in 2025; and Aman Raj, who narrowly missed securing the Order of Merit title against Pukhraj.

The competition in 2025 was intensely competitive, with the top three players—Pukhraj (Rs. 81,90,652), Aman Raj (Rs. 81,81,708), and Bhullar (Rs. 81,30,000)—distinguished by a mere Rs. 60,000.

A total of 58 competitors, including nine amateurs, will participate in the main event from March 11 to 13, with no cuts. The Pro-Am event is scheduled for March 14.

This Rs. 1.5 Crore tournament, designed to kick off the 2026 season, will also see esteemed participants such as the renowned Varun Parikh, a multiple-time champion; Indian-American Manav Shah, a winner on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica; and Varun Chopra.

“We are thrilled to launch Season 2 of IGPL. The inaugural season was immensely successful and our plans are progressing well,” remarked Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL and a seasoned professional with numerous victories in India.

He further noted, “It feels fitting to commence our 2026 season in Chandigarh, as this is where IGPL began its journey last year. Chandigarh serves as a nurturing ground for Indian golf, producing countless stars.”

Mundy emphasized that IGPL’s premier players, including Order of Merit champion Pukhraj Singh Gill, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Karandeep Kochhar, and Aman Raj, all celebrated winners, will be in contention this week.

“Our emerging stars like Veer Ganapathy will be joined by additional young talent and our mentors and icons like SSP Chawrasia and Gaurav Ghei, who are committed to the entire season, are prepared to elevate this new generation. We will soon announce further plans to enhance the golf ecosystem.”

Bhullar's remarkable credentials are well acknowledged. His legendary wins throughout Asia and India, along with his dedication to charities, junior golf, and mentoring young talents, underscore his diverse contributions beyond the sport. As the son of a former Indian athlete, his legacy is further enriched. “The game has offered me so much, and I aim to reciprocate. I believe I still have many years of top-level golf ahead in Asia and Europe,” stated the 37-year-old, who is a regular on the Asian Tour and intends to balance his time among the Asian Tour, International Series, and the IGPL.

The youthful contingent will be led by Veer Ganapathy, who has come close to his first victory on several occasions. Dubbed the ‘Young Turk’ of 2025, this 18-year-old from Bengaluru and son of professional Rahul Ganapathy finished seventh in the 2025 IGPL standings. Raghav Chugh (22) and newcomer Arjun Bhati (21) are also part of the young professionals in the mix, all vying for their first major professional victory.

The amateur division will highlight Harjai Milkha Singh, son of the legendary Jeev Milkha Singh, who has shown impressive performances on the Indian Golf Union circuit. Other notable amateurs include Krish Chawla and Chaitanya Pandey.

Among the invitees is the legendary SSP Chawrasia, a six-time Asian winner, with four victories on the DP World Tour and two Indian Open titles. Gaurav Ghei, the first Indian to compete in the Open, has committed to the full season and is actively involved in coaching young golfers and promoting the sport.

Pukhraj, whose brother Digraj is also a professional golfer, learned the game in Ludhiana before honing his skills throughout Punjab. Now based in Chandigarh, he is considered one of India's most promising golfers and regards IGPL as a vital step forward in his career in Asia and beyond.

Kochhar emerged as a sensation in 2025. As the youngest professional winner in India, he celebrated his first international victory in Egypt last year and has since become a full member of the Asian Tour. “Participating in both IGPL and the Asian Tour has been beneficial for my development,” remarked Kochhar, who was among IGPL's winners in 2025.

The 58-player roster includes multiple champion Aman Raj, Olympian Udayan Mane, Sachin Baisoya, Kapil Kumar, Aryan Roopa Anand, former Indian Open champion C. Muniyappa, and former Asian Tour winner Chiragh Kumar.