Chandigarh, March 14 (NationPress) The Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) achieved a significant milestone during its Invitational 2026 Chandigarh Leg, which took place from March 11 to 13 at the Chandigarh Golf Club. This event featured three Special Olympics golfers—Ranveer Singh Saini, Kushagra Gaur, and Mohit Kumar—who had the unique opportunity to compete alongside professional athletes.

This event was a pivotal moment for inclusive sports. At the IGPL Invitational Chandigarh 2026, Indian golf icon and defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar clinched the title, with Olympic golfers present to witness this remarkable feat.

Ranveer Singh Saini, hailing from Gurgaon, is the first autistic golfer from India and has earned three medals at the Special Olympics World Games: a gold in 2015 at Los Angeles, a silver in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, and another gold in 2023 in Berlin. He is also a 13-time National Champion and has been honored with the National Award in Sports by the President of India.

Mohit Kumar, a promising 21-year-old from Hisar, recently secured second place at the Special Olympics Bharat National Golf Championship and is a strong contender for the upcoming Special Olympics World Summer Games in Santiago, Chile.

On this significant occasion, Kartikeya Saini, Ranveer's father, remarked, "IGPL has taken a commendable step by inviting these young golfers to participate in their tour alongside some of the best Indian golfers. This initiative symbolizes a giant leap towards inclusivity in sports."

Kartikeya further emphasized the bond that developed among the golfers, stating, "Ranveer, Kushagra, and Mohit shared a wonderful camaraderie—high fives and hugs after a successful putt. It's heartening to see IGPL fostering friendship among players with disabilities."

Kushagra Gaur, also from Gurgaon, is an international gold medallist at the Macau Special Olympics Golf Masters. He has competed in the IGU North India Feeder Tour against professional golfers. Both he and Ranveer train at DLF Golf and Country Club and are recognized in the Limca Book of Records. Kushagra's journey into golf began with cricket, as his mother noted that his skill in hitting boundaries led the family to explore a sport emphasizing individual talent and technical prowess, making golf an ideal fit.

Reflecting on her son's transition from cricket to golf, Kushagra's mother shared, "He had a natural ability to hit boundaries, which made us believe that golf, being about precision and skill, would be a great fit for him. We never imposed limitations on him; rather, we encouraged him to break through any barriers."

Shweta Gaur, Kushagra's mother, also shared her gratitude to IGPL, stating, "Since 2018, when he began playing in the IGU Feeder, he has shown remarkable improvement, competing effectively with regular golfers. His scores improved from double digits to single digits, and he progressed from the 60th to the 10th position. He recognized his potential, which is immensely fulfilling for us."

"Playing 18 holes requires immense discipline and determination. I always felt Kushagra had the potential, and when IGPL reached out to us, we were overjoyed," she added.

The Chandigarh Invitational is part of IGPL's international tour, which spans locations including India, Mauritius, Congo, and South Africa. For the families of these Special Olympic athletes, this invitation was more than just an opportunity to compete; it represented a profound moment of unity and camaraderie among the three golfers.

Through its partnership with LIV Golf, IGPL is creating a genuine pathway for Indian golfers, including those with disabilities, to join an international golf series. For Special Olympics golfers who have participated globally, this collaboration signifies an unprecedented opportunity to be acknowledged simply as golfers, without any special categorization.