Will Anshul and Rakshit Shine for India at the Asia-Pacific Amateurs in Dubai?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Anshul Mishra and Rakshit Dahiya represent India at the AAC.
- The event is held at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai.
- Exciting prizes include entries into major tournaments.
- Dahiya has previous AAC experience.
- Indian golfers are gaining recognition on the international stage.
New Delhi, Sep 9 (NationPress) The current All India amateur champion Anshul Mishra and the rising star Rakshit Dahiya, who have gained significant attention lately, are set to represent India at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai.
This prestigious event will take place at the elite Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course from October 23-26.
According to the latest entry list, India will also be represented by Raghav Gulati and Ranveer Mitroo, alongside Dahiya and Mishra. All four players possess extensive experience in international competitions, particularly Raghav Gulati, who frequently plays in Dubai.
The AAC offers some of the most enticing rewards in amateur golf. The champion will earn an invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament and an exemption into The 154th Open in 2026. Runners-up will receive exemptions into the Open Qualifying Series, while the top three finishers will gain entry into the 131st Amateur Championship.
Out of the four Indian players, only Dahiya has previous experience at the AAC, having participated in the 2024 edition held in Japan, where he made the cut and finished Tied-37th.
Dahiya has had an impressive year, clinching victories at the Delhi Golf Club Juniors, Delhi NCR Cup, and Samarvir Sahi amateurs. His most notable recent achievement was securing a Top-10 finish in a Pro event on the Professional Golfers Tour of India at the Coal India Open.
Mishra, the victor of the historic 132-year-old All India Amateurs in 2024, has showcased diverse experiences in recent months. He finished second at the FCG Callaway event in the US and has had Top-10 finishes in Dubai and Singapore. The young talent also participated in several junior events in the US, including the prestigious Boys Junior PGA and US Junior amateurs.
Gulati has claimed victories in two competitions in Dubai, making him well-acquainted with the surroundings. He triumphed in the FJT Middle East and the Tommy Fleetwood Pathway International event presented by DP World.
Mitroo is no stranger to competition either, having earned Top-10 finishes at the Asia-Pacific Juniors in Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as in an American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event in the US.
Approximately 120 competitors will participate in this event, which was founded in 2009 by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A, and the Masters Tournament to promote amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region.
Players from 41 APGC member organizations have received invitations, with 117 players confirmed so far for the 120-player field.
This year’s anticipated stars include Harry Takis from Australia, the 2024 runner-up Ziqin Zhou from China, Kent Hsiao from Chinese Taipei, Jeffrey Shen from Hong Kong, Rayhan Latief from Indonesia, and various competitors from Japan and Thailand.
Four nations have claimed titles at the AAC: China with five victories, Australia and Japan with four each, and Korea with two.
No Indian player has yet secured this prestigious title, although Rayhan Thomas, now a professional, was the runner-up in 2018 at Sentosa, Singapore.
Noteworthy past participants include Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion and a two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur winner, and Cameron Smith, the 2022 Open champion.