At only 20 years old, Rajdeep Paul from Kolkata has already made an amazing mark in golf. Rajdeep, who has Down Syndrome, shows a strong will, a deep love for the game, and he has great support from people who care about him. He fell in love with golf when he was very young, and that love has turned into a lifelong dream, making him a competitive player with many awards in special IGU events.

While other kids played with toy cars and cricket bats, Rajdeep was glued to golf tournaments on TV. His mother remembers, “He would watch golf all day long. We couldn’t find any plastic golf clubs in local toy stores, so we had to order them from elsewhere just for him to play.” His interest in golf was stronger than any other sport, and before long, all he wanted were golf toys.

Rajdeep Paul and his mother Mrs. Jayanti Paul.

As Rajdeep grew up, his passion intensified. However, his family struggled to find a coach who understood how he learned best. “Our main worry was finding the right coach who could teach him with patience and understand his needs,” his mother said. That’s when they found out about the Protouch Golf Academy at Tollygunge Club, where Mr. Somnath Roy became Rajdeep’s coach. Almost ten years later, their coach-student relationship has blossomed into something special.

Rajdeep at the Protouch Academy

His coach describes Rajdeep as “a very obedient student, really kind, and very serious about golf.” He continues, “Rajdeep pays close attention, follows directions carefully, and practices on his own whenever he wants. There are still some areas we need to work on, like his drive to play all 18 holes, but I’m always trying new ways to help him get better.”

Rajdeep at the Special Olympics Bharat, National Championship.

A big moment in Rajdeep’s golfing journey happened when the Special Olympics encouraged him to take part in competitive events in 2021. Although he faced some challenges at first, he still managed to win a silver medal in Level 2, which was the Unified Sports Alternate shot Team Play Competition (9- Holes). With Protouch Academy’s constant support, Rajdeep kept on improving. He began to compete not only in the special category but also with kids his own age in events like the Feeder Tour. His hard work paid off when he won a silver medal at the 2025 Special Olympics’ Level 1, which is the Individual Skills Competition representing West Bengal; unfortunately, Rajdeep missed out on finishing in the top two spots in the Level 4 event, which was the Individual Stroke Play Competition (9-hole). Getting a top-two spot there would have enabled him to qualify for the upcoming Special Olympics representing India.

Rajdeep at the second spot on the podium.

His mother said proudly, “Many people praised his performance and talked positively about his results. The fact that Rajdeep competes with other kids and loves it means everything to me. We feel fortunate that he has always been treated well, without any special accommodations due to his condition, at the academy or in our neighbourhood. All the credit goes to his coach and the Protouch Academy.”

Rajdeep’s story demonstrates the importance of having passion, hard work, and a strong support network. He keeps moving forward because he loves playing golf and wants to achieve even better scores in future competitions. As he looks forward to new challenges, people in the golfing community are inspired by him, a young man demonstrating that obstacles are meant to be overcome.