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New Delhi, October17, 2026: Shiv Kapur and Karandeep Kochhar, two of the AM Green Indian Golf Premier League’s (IGPL) prominent performers, made the halfway cut and earned places in the weekend rounds of the DP World India Championship.

They were two of the three AM Green IGPL players, who teed off at the event and survived a demanding test at Delhi Golf Club to finish exactly on the cut line at even-par 144.

Both shot 72 in each of their two rounds. The third AM Green IGPL star, Sachin Baisoya missed the cut.

Sachin Baisoya came in a replacement for 11-time Asian Tour winner and five-time IGPL winner, Gaganjeet Bhullar, who had a back pain.

At the top, Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra continued his impressive record in India, taking a one-shot halfway lead at 10-under-par 134. After opening with a 67, he followed up with another three-under 67, despite dropping a shot late in his second round.

India has been a happy hunting ground for Chacarra, who has one victory and two other top-five finishes in four appearances in the country.

Scotland’s Scott Jamieson was second at nine-under 135, while five players Angel Hidalgo, Adrian Meronk, Joost Luiten, Thomas Detry and Joel Girrbach shared third place at eight-under.

Rory McIlroy moved to six-under 138, four shots behind Chacarra, while defending champion Tommy Fleetwood was five-under. Five of the seven Major champions in the field made the cut.

Shiv Kapur and Karandeep Kochhar’s progress was significant for the AM GreenIGPL, whose leading players have been using the league to sharpen their games against strong domestic and international opposition.

Shiv Kapur finished third at the RVR Delhi Blue Bulls event earlier this month, while Karandeep Kochhar was runner-up to Gaganjeet Bhullar at the AM Green Krishna IGPL Invitational in Hyderabad last week.

Both have now carried that competitive form into a $4 million championship featuring some of the biggest names in world golf, including six-time Major winner, Rory McIlroy.

Shiv Kapur, a three-time Asian Tour winner whose success includes an Asian Tour title at Delhi Golf Club in 2017, drew on his familiarity with the course to negotiate the cut. He carded successive rounds of 72, closing his second round with a birdie on Friday.

Karandeep Kochhar, who won an AM Green IGPL event in the UAE last year and claimed the Asian Development Tour’s Red Sea Open in 2025, also returned two rounds of 72 to make the weekend.

Both are tied 63rd, alongside Saptak Talwar (71-73), who also finished at level par. The three will be looking to climb the leaderboard over the final 36 holes and make their presence felt in an international field.

Om Prakash Chouhan remained the leading Indian, tied 29th at four-under 140 after rounds of 68 and 72. He recovered from an early double bogey when he resumed his weather-delayed second round on Saturday morning.

Yuvraj Sandhu produced the most dramatic Indian recovery, shooting 68 after an opening 75.

Three-over for the tournament after his first seven holes, he made seven birdies in his final 10 holes, including four in the last five, to finish at one-under 143 and was T-53 after 36 holes, alongside the experienced Anirban Lahiri, whose last worldwide victory came at Delhi Golf Club in 2015. Lahiri (70-73) was also at one-under and T-53.

For Shiv Kapur and Karandeep Kochhar, the weekend is more than an opportunity to improve their positions. It is a chance for two of the AM Green IGPL’s established names to show that performances on the league circuit can translate into a strong showing when the world’s best come to India.

Warm regards,

Arnab Takukdar

Shri Anurag Thakur honours Asian Games champion Pranavi Urs with ₹1 crore cheque
India’s Demographic Advantage Can Produce World-Class Golfers Over the Next Decade, Says Amitabh Kant, Board Member, DP World PGTI Making golf accessible in tier-two and tier-three cities can build India’s next generation of golfing talent New Delhi, October 17, 2026: India has the potential to produce world-class golfers over the next decade, driven by its young population, wider access to the sport, stronger grassroots infrastructure and greater international exposure for Indian players, said leaders of DP World PGTI at a media interaction on the sidelines of the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club. Mr. Amitabh Kant (IAS), Board Member, DP World PGTI, Ex-G20 Sherpa, Govt of India & Former CEO of NITI Aayog; Mr. Atul Chaturvedi (IAS), Member, NCLT and Former Secretary, Govt of India; and Mr. Amandeep Johl, CEO, DP World PGTI, highlighted the opportunities to expand golf’s reach across India, strengthen the country’s presence in international competition and establish India as a destination for golf tourism. Drawing parallels with India’s journey in cricket, Mr. Amitabh Kant, Board Member, DP World PGTI, said, “India has established itself in world cricket, and we are now beginning a similar journey in golf. Golf is entering an exciting phase in the country. This is a rare opportunity. The crowds coming to watch some of the world’s best golfers will inspire young Indians to take up the game. Our demographics are in our favour, and I believe the next decade can produce Indian golfers who will compete and win on the world stage.” Stressing the need to make the game more accessible, Mr. Kant added, “Golf has often been seen as an elitist sport, but that perception is changing. Tier-two and tier-three cities can produce some of our best golfers.” He pointed to a strong response from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, and cited the Chhattisgarh Government’s efforts to promote golf and develop facilities for young players. “If young boys and girls from tribal communities get those opportunities, there is no reason they cannot become exceptional golfers. Over the next 10 years, we want to see the game flourish across India and our players win global tournaments,” he further added. Mr. Kant urged large enterprises to follow DP World’s lead in supporting golf. He also suggested that 25 per cent of college and university admissions be based on sporting merit, using clear criteria such as state representation, so that athletes can continue their education while competing. Highlighting India’s potential to attract international golf tourists, Mr. Atul Chaturvedi, Member, NCLT and Former Secretary, Govt of India, said, “I believe India has excellent golf courses and supporting infrastructure. What we need is stronger branding. India offers exceptional value as a golfing destination, both in terms of its courses and the cost of playing. Just as India has developed as a destination for health tourism, there is an opportunity to build golf tourism.” Mr. Amandeep Johl outlined the tour’s efforts to strengthen international competition. These include inviting players from the Sunshine, Korean, Thai and Japan Tours, adding more co-sanctioned events with the Asian Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour, and funding Indian players to compete at overseas qualifying schools. Referring to India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup triumph, Mr. Amandeep Johl, CEO, DP World PGTI, said, “The 1983 cricket World Cup changed what India believed it could achieve. We are working towards a similar moment in golf. It could happen at the DP World India Championship, the Indian Open or somewhere else. We cannot predict it, but we can keep creating opportunities.” Mr. Johl noted that building a sporting culture takes decades and that policies and investment need time to deliver results. With committed people on its board, strong brands supporting it and growing international partnerships, DP World PGTI remains focused on creating pathways for Indian golfers to succeed on the global stage.

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