New Delhi: Golf's inclusion in the 2016
Olympics has prompted the Indian Olympic Association to seek
government help for making the sport popular and enhance the
country's chances of winning a medal in Rio de Janeiro.
"We are in touch with the government for making golf more
popular and affordable so that golf clubs allow more people to
take part in the sport. Presently Golf is widely seen as game
for entertainment and played by the rich," IOA chief Suresh
Kalmadi, said during the pre-Indo Nippon Golf Cup function
organised by the Japanese Embassy.
"Golf has long been labeled a game for the wealthy and
one of the main reasons for that is that golf clubs set high
fees to cover their taxes. First, we want India to play at the
2016 Games and then we will aim for good results at following
Olympics," he added.
Kalmadi said Indian golfers like Jeev Milkha Singh and
Jyoti Randhawa have already made a mark at the world stage and
new talent needs to be nurtured.
"India has good golf players and is considered part of
the world's top golfing nations, but for the Olympics it has
to pay extra attention to the development of young talent," he
said.
"If we want to have a bright future, we have to start the
work at the grassroots level. We will set up more golf
competitions for young people and also send some of the
youngsters abroad," he added.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009, 20:37