New Delhi: Ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh urged on Monday the government to build more public courses in India to make the sport popular in the country.
While Jeev admitted that off late Indian golfers have made their presence felt at the global stage, he said a lot needs to be done from the government`s end to make golf a mass sport in the country.
"We need more public golf courses and driving ranges in the country to popularise golf," said Jeev, who was named the brand ambassador of Swedish luxury car-maker, Volvo Auto on Monday.
"In India, golf is considered to be an elite sport so it is not possible for everyone to play in private courses. We need to give opportunities to all who want to play the sport. And for that, we need public golf courses.
"That`s what I have been requesting the government because it is the government which has to allocate the land to build public courses," he said.
The inaugural Golf Premier League, a franchise-based event organised on the lines of Indian Premier League by professional golfer Shiv Kapur earlier this year, has been a huge success and Jeev feels such initiatives will only help in promoting the sport.
"We can`t compare golf with cricket. Cricket is a mass sport in India but GPL is a good initiative to promote golf in India," said the 41-year-old, who finished tied 22nd at the just-concluded Panasonic Open at the Delhi Golf Course.
Asked about his comments on the drug scandal involving
Indian boxing`s pin-up boy, Vijender Singh, Jeev refused to be dragged into the matter, but said every star athlete has some responsibility towards the society.
"I don`t want to comment on any individual, but I feel if people look upto you as a role model, you have certain responsibilities. We are role models but at the end of the day we are human beings as well," he said.
The son of legendary athlete Milkha Singh, Jeev is also a great movie buff. Apart from golf, Jeev doesn`t follow other sports and watches movies to unwind himself before any major tournament.
Asked about the upcoming movie on the life of his father, titled `Bhag Milkha Bhag`, Jeev said he is waiting with bated breath for the release of the film on July 12.
"The team of `Bhag Milkha Bhag` has done an excellent job. Farhan (Akhtar) is brilliant. He has lived up to Milkha Singh`s character. For sure it is going to be a hit," he said.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.