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Tag: Arjun Atwal

  • Top NRI athletes welcome PM Modi’s vision for Pravasi Sports

    Top NRI athletes welcome PM Modi’s vision for Pravasi Sports

    Mumbai: Indian golf legend Arjun Atwal has welcomed honourable prime minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Pravasi Sports. Atwal, who is the only Indian to win on the coveted PGA Tour, shared his thoughts with the Holistic International Pravasi Sports Association (HIPSA), the first organization to be exclusively set up with an aim to promote and ‘Integrate’ PravasiBhartiya youth with their motherland through the medium of Sports.

    Speaking from his home in the USA, Atwal further said, “I have always appreciated PM Modi and this vision of Pravasi Sports has a special significance for me and my family. I’m still playing golf and have another five years to go and I would be delighted to play in India. Both my sons are basketball players and we as a family would be elated if they can come and play in India and connect back to their roots. Going forward, a Pravasi vs Nivasi competition would be even more exciting to have.”

    HIPSA is planning several tournaments involving overseas Indian youth and recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Haryana government for the development and promotion of Kabaddi, in particular focussing on overseas Indian women Kabaddi players. The ultimate aim being to push for the inclusion of Kabaddi in the Summer Olympics.

    Pravasi Sports Leagues in Women’s Kabaddi & Cricket are also in the plans for 2024 and the captain of the 2012 U-19 ICC World Cup winning Indian cricket team Unmukt Chand, is among its first backers. The cricketer who now plies his trade in the USA, said, “The Prime Minister’s vision for sports competitions for PravasiBharatiyas is very inspiring and gives us all a chance to stay connected to our roots. The concept of a Pravasi Sports League is very promising, especially as it promotes fitness, enthusiasm and the spirit of reconnecting to your motherland.”

    The prime minister back in 2019 in a meeting with the sports fraternity, had envisioned and had desired to find a way to conduct Sports competitions for talented Pravasi Bharatiya youth in India.

    Earlier in 2017, addressing the 14th edition of the PravasiBharatiya Divas in Bengaluru, Modi had said, “I welcome all young Pravasis. You must stay connected with India and return over and over again. This is your home.”

    Recently, All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey, had revealed that they were looking to approach 24 Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) to explore the possibility of them being selected for national duty. However, dual citizenship still remains a contentious issue and the need for an initial bridge between talented overseas Indian athletes engaging through sport with their country of origin seemed to be the need of the hour.

    HIPSA, through its objectives, will look to act as that bridge and try and give talented overseas youth a first feel of playing regularly in India.

  • WSG to promote golf star Arjun Atwal

    WSG to promote golf star Arjun Atwal

    MUMBAI: World Sport Group (WSG) and Blue Giraffe Enterprises (BGE) have announced the creation of a relationship whereby the sports marketing company will exclusively promote and manage the affairs of Indian golf star Arjun Atwal in Asia.
     
    Atwal became the first player from India to win on the US PGA Tour this season when he triumphed in the Wyndham Championship and as his career goes from strength to strength, he is looking to solidify his support team.

    BGE CEO Bobby Kreusler said, “We feel that WSG is uniquely positioned within the Indian and Asian markets to exclusively assist us with promoting Arjun and effectively service these markets.”
     
    WSG VP golf Patrick Feizal Joyce said, “We are also really looking forward to working with Blue Giraffe Enterprises who are a new partner for us and one with which we hope to build a long and fruitful relationship.”
     
    Atwal finished equal fifth in the $1.25 million Hero Honda India Open yesterday at Delhi Golf Club and is looking forward to the new relationship.

    “I have played in many events promoted by World Sport Group over the years and have many friends there so I feel it is an exciting and sensible option to take. It is important for me to still play in Asia as much as I can as this is where it all started for me. World Sport Group have an enormous amount of experience here and I feel a lot can be achieved with such a strong partner,” said Atwal.

    The 37-year-old Indian’s last victory on the Asian Tour came in 2008 Malaysian Open, which was his seventh victory on the circuit. He topped the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2003 before furthering his career in the US.