Vani Kapoor starts favourite at WPGT Leg 8, Bengaluru Golf Club
Synopsis
Vani Kapoor arrives at the WPGT's eighth leg at Bengaluru's Bangalore Golf Club as the title favourite — but without last week's champion Anvitha Narender in the field, the door is open for both seasoned rivals and a surging Next Gen to claim the ₹17 lakh prize. India's women's golf depth has rarely looked stronger.
Key Takeaways
The eighth leg of the WPGT takes place at Bangalore Golf Club , Bengaluru, with a prize purse of ₹17 lakh .
The field comprises 57 players , including 12 amateurs ; last week's winner Anvitha Narender is absent.
Vani Kapoor , the 2025 Order of Merit winner with five titles last year, starts as the strong favourite.
Next Gen contenders Mannat Brar , Heena Kang , and Jahanvi Bakshi are among the key challengers.
Amateurs Zara Anand and Mahreen Bhatia are among the 12 amateurs competing this week.
The WPGT is nearly two decades old and continues to grow in depth, aided by Indian women competing on the LET and LET Access Tour .
Vani Kapoor, the 2025 Order of Merit winner, enters the eighth leg of the Women's Pro Golf Tour (WPGT) at the Bangalore Golf Club in Bengaluru as the strong favourite, despite narrowly missing out on the title in last week's play-off at Mysuru. The tournament, scheduled for the week of 16 June, features a field of 57 players — including 12 amateurs — competing for a prize purse of ₹17 lakh.
Key Contenders This Week
Kapoor, who claimed five titles in 2025, leads a formidable lineup that includes seasoned campaigners Tvesa Mali, Ridhima Dilawari, Amandeep Drall, Neha Tripathi, Vidhatri Urs, and Seher Atwal. All have won on tour previously and are considered genuine title contenders at the Bangalore Golf Club.
Notably, last week's champion Anvitha Narender will not defend her title at this leg, having chosen to skip the event. Anvitha edged Kapoor in a tense two-hole play-off at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club in Mysuru to claim her second WPGT title in the seventh leg.
Next Gen Ready to Spoil the Party
The younger brigade is emerging as a credible threat to the established names. Mannat Brar, Heena Kang, and Jahanvi Bakshi represent the tour's Next Gen cohort, while a crop of new professionals adds further unpredictability to the draw. Two of India's most promising amateurs, Zara Anand and Mahreen Bhatia, are also in the field this week as part of the 12 amateur entries.
Last Week's Drama at Mysuru
The seventh leg at Mysuru produced a gripping finish. Anvitha Narender, the young Bengaluru golfer, staged a back-nine recovery before outlasting Kapoor in the second hole of a dramatic play-off. Young amateur Ananyaa Sood impressed in the early rounds, while Riya Jadon finished in third place. Anvitha's composure under pressure underscored the rising depth of Indian women's golf.
A Tour Growing in Strength
The Women's Pro Golf Tour, now nearly two decades old, has grown considerably in competitive depth. The presence of several Indian women professionals on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the LET Access Tour has strengthened the overall talent pool. The blend of experience and emerging youth has consistently produced competitive scoring and strong fields across the season's legs.
With Kapoor hunting redemption after last week's play-off defeat and a hungry Next Gen nipping at the veterans' heels, the eighth leg at Bengaluru promises another closely fought contest.
Point of View
But it also removes the clearest proof that the Next Gen can beat the best on their day. The WPGT's real story this season is structural: with Indian women now competing on the LET and LET Access Tour, the domestic tour is functioning as a genuine feeder circuit rather than a destination in itself. Whether the prize purse of ₹17 lakh keeps pace with that ambition is a question the tour's organisers will need to answer as the talent pool deepens.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the favourite for the WPGT Leg 8 at Bangalore Golf Club?
Vani Kapoor, the 2025 Order of Merit winner with five titles last season, is the strong favourite for the eighth leg at Bangalore Golf Club in Bengaluru. She enters the event seeking redemption after losing a play-off in the previous leg at Mysuru.
Why is Anvitha Narender not playing in WPGT Leg 8?
Anvitha Narender, who won the seventh leg at Mysuru, has chosen to skip the eighth leg at Bangalore Golf Club. No specific reason was cited in available reports.
What is the prize money for the WPGT Leg 8?
The eighth leg of the Women's Pro Golf Tour at Bangalore Golf Club carries a prize purse of ₹17 lakh.
Who are the key young players to watch at WPGT Leg 8?
Mannat Brar, Heena Kang, and Jahanvi Bakshi represent the Next Gen contingent and are considered capable of upsetting the established players. Amateurs Zara Anand and Mahreen Bhatia are also in the field and are regarded as two of India's most promising young golfers.
How has the Women's Pro Golf Tour grown in recent years?
The WPGT, now nearly two decades old, has seen a significant rise in competitive depth, with several Indian women professionals also competing on the Ladies European Tour and the LET Access Tour. This dual participation has strengthened the overall talent pool and raised the quality of scoring on the domestic circuit.
