NEW DELHI: The fourth edition of the annual India Golf Industry Association (GIA) awards honoured top contributors towards the growth of the game in India over the recent past, at a gala ceremony at the iconic Delhi Golf Club on Friday evening.
The GIA awards, held in the backdrop of the 8th India Golf & Turf Expo (IGTE) – South Asia’s largest golf trade show, saw celebrated coaches Vijay Divecha and Nonita Lal Qureshi among those receiving awards.
Dilip Thomas, veteran administrator, council member of the Indian Golf Union, who has helped nurturing of at least 50 Indian golfers over the past three decades and also sat in the International Golf Federation’s board of directors, won the Lifetime Contribution to Golf award and PK Bhattacharya, DG, Golf Industry Association, was recognized and felicitated with Lifetime Service in Golf award.
Divecha and Ms Qureshi were awarded for contribution to golf coaching. While Vijay Divecha has coached star golfers Anirban Lahiri, Chikkarangappa, Udayan Mane and others, Ms Qureshi, a former Arjuna Awardee, is best known for her contribution to golf in India as an international player and then as a coach to several top ladies and junior golfers who have performed outstandingly on the international circuits.
Prominent awards
‘First 18 Holes International Standard Golf Course Development by a Smart City in India’ to The Naya Raipur Development Authority
Royal Calcutta Golf Club Kolkata – Best Member Engagement Programme
Eco Park, Kolkata – Best New Nine-Hole Golf course
Boulder Hills, Hyderabad – Best Restoration of a golf course
Deepali Shah Gandhi, acting president and patron, GIA, said: “I congratulate all the winners for their sterling efforts in promoting and popularizing the game of golf in their own ways across the country. The GIA is committed to the development and growth of the game at all levels and we hope that this small token of appreciation goes a long way in encouraging all the stakeholders to do even better going forward.”
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