Jeev leads 10-strong Indian challenge in Hong Kong Open

Hong Kong: Ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh leads a strong Indian challenge of 10 players in the UBS Hong Kong Open which tees off here tomorrow.

Jeev, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit title holder, may not have played much in Asia, but he is one of the top draws in the USD 2.5 million event at the Hong Kong Golf Course. Jeev, aiming to back into the world`s top-50 rankings with a good show here, will tee up with Lee Westwood and defending champion Lin Wen-Tang of Chinese Taipei in the first two rounds. Eight of the 10 strong Indian contingent, including Jeev, have won in the Asian Tour. Gaganjeet Bhullar, winner of Indonesia President Invitational, Chinnaswamy Muniyappa, winner of the Hero Honda Indian Open and Jyoti Randhawa, winner of the Singha Thailand Open, are taking part in the event. Also in the fray are SSP Chowrasia, winner of the Indian Masters ion 2008, Gaurav Ghei, three-time winner on Asian Tour, Shiv Kapur winner of the Volvo Masters of Asia in 2005, and Rahil Gangjee, who won in his rookie year back in 2004. Only two Indians out of the 10 have not won in Asian Tour -- Digvijay Singh, who has time and again been in top-3 but not pocketed a title so far and Anirban Lahiri, who last week won the domestic event BILT Open. Bureau Report