BTI Open, a four-day long international golf tournament with players from 14 countries began at Kurmitola Golf Club on April 24 and ends tomorrow (Friday). This international golf tournament is sponsored by Building Technology and Ideas Limited (BTI) and organised by Bangladesh Professional Golfer's Association (BPGA) with Professional Golfer's Tour of India (PGTI) and Asian Development Tour (ADT). FE interviewed the President of Bangladesh Professional Golfer's Association (BPGA) Asif Ibrahim about the event and prospects of development of professional golf in Bangladesh. The excerpts are as follows:
FE: Please give us a background of development of professional golf in Bangladesh?
AI-Development of professional golf in Bangladesh came into the limelight after Siddikur Rahman became the first Bangladeshi golfer to win an Asian Tour event at the Brunei Open in August 2010. Before this, professional golfers from Bangladesh participated in events organised in India by Professional Golfer's Tour of India (PGTI). Siddikur picked up his maiden win on tour in 2008 at the PGTI Players Championship at Poona Golf Club and he snatched his second victory two months later at the HUDA-GTPL - Unitech Haryana Open. Siddikur won his third event in 2009 at The Global Green Bangalore Open and his fourth event in 2010 at the American Express Bangladesh Open. These successes gradually enabled Bangladesh in the Asian tour circuit recognition as a country where professional golf can be developed.
FE: What is the role of BPGA for development of professional golf in Bangladesh?
AI-BPGA was established in 2008 as an 'association' to promote and elevate the interest and standard of the game of golf and provide support and playing opportunities to all professional golfers of Bangladesh.It is registered as an association under the Companies Act 1994 (section 28). The association is also duly approved by the Ministry of Commerce and recognised by Bangladesh Golf Federation (BGF) and Ministry of Sports and Cultural Affairs. All professional golfers of Bangladesh are members of the association. We also have non-professional amateur golfers as associate members. Apart from organising tri sanctioned international golf tournaments BPGA organises tournaments for professionals under the BPGA Bangladesh Tour sponsored by corporates of Bangladesh. We also help prospective golfers with financial assistance for participating in international tournaments in foreign countries.
FE: What activities have the current committee pursued so far and what do you expect to do in the coming years?
AI-We have been running the activities of the committee for the last one and a half years and our tenure ends in October, 2018. We held several tournaments in Kurmitola Golf Club, Bhatiary Golf and Country Club, Savar Golf Club and other golf courses throughout Bangladesh. One of the key challenges to turn BPGA into the stature of Professional Golfer's Tour of India and Asian Development Tour is to get corporate sponsorship. If we hold more local and international tournaments with attractive prize money, the BPGA tour will certainly develop in near future. With the help of Bangladesh Golf Federation and Bangladesh Golf Academy, we plan to recruit a pool of young talents and arrange mental and physical training courses for them.
FE: Do you think the government should play a more active role in promoting golf?
AI- Of course. That is another reason we had a meeting with the Tourism Minister. We want to promote Bangladesh as a golfing destination. If we like to attract international investors, we need to develop international standard golf courses because the investors look for golf facilities whenever they go to a country. We hope that we will have more golf courses and get the remaining ones in better shape so that golf tourism flourishes. From the government side we hope that more funds will be injected for the development of professional golf.
FE: Awareness of the game is still not where it should be. What can be done to expedite the process?
AI-Golf is still considered as a rather elitist game. But we need to have more and more golfers from grassroots. With whatever resources we have, if we can introduce the game to schools, eventually the game will grow. We can also popularise the game through media, especially social media.
FE: What are your expectations from the ongoing tournament BTI Open 2018?
AI-We have 132 golfers from 14 countries participating in the tournament. Our first objective is that maximum number of Bangladeshi players to make the cut and play the final two days. Of course, it will be nice if one of the local boys lift the cup of 27th April! There is a lot of pressure on Siddikur Rahman to do well. Let us all hope for the best.
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