Golf is emerging big time in India: Kapil Dev

London: Golf is fast emerging as a leading sport in India, Kapil Dev, captain of the Indian cricket team which won the World Cup in 1983, said on Thursday.

"I have no doubt that golf is emerging big time in India and we have talented and hard working youngsters," Kapil Dev, now a regular golfer, said. Kapil was speaking at a function organised to attract investment for the `Imperial Golf Estate` being built in a 280acres of land off the Ferozepur road in Ludhiana. He said, "Last 15 years have seen tremendous growth in golf in India and many youngsters like Jeev Milka Singh, Randhawa have shot up to the international scene." "Golf today is much bigger than cricket globally. Golf is going to be much bigger. I personally feel that all NRIs who live here must have a place back home in India." Asked whether golf was not a game of the elite, Kapil Dev said "cricket was richman`s game. Only Maharajas and Rajas used to play. But no more. Same is with Golf." Asked about his association with the Imperial Golf Estate which is building an exclusive and first-of-its-kind residential community, consisting of an 18-hole Championship Golf Course conceived by Nicklaus Design, a company created by the legendary Jack Nicklaus," Kapil Dev said "If the resort is not promoting golf, I am not with them. What Imperial is doing is upliftment of society."The Imperial Golf Estate was awarded a prestigious trophy for "Excellence in Planning and Design of a Premier Golf community in Punjab, India" at a function at the House of Commons here last night. The award was accepted by Ariel Podrojski, Head of India for BCRE which are in partnership with the Imperial Golf Estate. Vijay Chowdhry, Director Imperial Golf Estate said "We in India are on the cusp of a sporting revolution, and it is our firm believe that some fo the young golfers from the Imperial Academy will don the Indian colours for the forthcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio." PTI