Pranavi Urs Receives ₹1 Crore for Historic Asian Games Gold
Celebrating a Milestone Achievement
Pranavi Urs, who made history as India's first female golf gold medalist at the Asian Games, was awarded a cheque of ₹1 crore by Anurag Singh Thakur, the former Union Sports Minister and current Member of Parliament. This recognition took place during the India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club on Friday, celebrating her remarkable success at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, as stated in a press release. The event was attended by notable figures such as Raj Khanna, President of Delhi Golf Club; Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL; Manav Jaini, Director of Bharath Golf Private Limited; and tennis legend Leander Paes, who joined Thakur in honoring Pranavi.
Inspiring Future Generations
Anurag Thakur expressed, "Pranavi has given Indian golf something it had waited a very long time for. Honoring her at a DP World Tour event in Delhi, in front of fans who love the game, felt appropriate. Young girls who take up golf now have an Asian Games champion to inspire them."
A Moment of Reflection
For Pranavi, this recognition was a moment to reflect on a transformative fortnight in her golfing career. While receiving the ₹1 crore cheque at the Delhi Golf Club, she stated, "I'm just grateful for the opportunity. Competing against top male professionals and succeeding motivates us all." She added, "Being recognized at home is significant, especially at a tournament featuring many of the world's best players. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind. I thank Shri Anurag Thakur ji for being here and AM Green IGPL for facilitating this event. This medal belongs to everyone who has supported me since I began playing, and I hope it encourages more girls in India to take up the sport."
A Historic Win in Japan
Pranavi made history on October 3 by becoming the first Indian woman golfer to secure an individual gold medal at the Asian Games. Her victory was a testament to her resilience and skill. After starting the final round with a three-shot lead, she faced a setback with a triple bogey on the third hole. However, the 23-year-old rebounded with three birdies, finishing at 15-under 265, narrowly defeating China's Yin Ruoning and Singapore's Shannon Tan by one shot. This win ended a 24-year drought for an Indian individual gold in golf at the Asian Games, the last being Shiv Kapur's victory in Busan in 2002. Additionally, Pranavi contributed to India's silver medal in the women's team event alongside Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar.
Recognizing a Trailblazer
Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of AM Green IGPL, emphasized that Pranavi's achievement warranted recognition on a significant golf platform in the country. He remarked, "Pranavi's gold is the kind of result that Indian golf strives for over the years, and it deserved to be celebrated on a grand stage at home. We were pleased to facilitate this recognition at the DP World India Championship. Last year, she became the first Indian to win a mixed pro event at the IGPL Invitational in Mumbai, and now she has made history again. She is a true trailblazer in Indian golf."