 "Anirban Lahiri: On a swing")
It was in 2006-07 that the country began to take note of its golfers: Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa and a young Shiv Kapur. Singh became the first Indian golfer to break into the top 100 and won four titles on the European Tour. Randhawa too broke into the top 100 and did very well on the Asian Tour. As interest in the sport began to decline, Anirban Lahiri arrived on the scene.
The 28-year-old golfer, who lives in Bengaluru, finished fifth at the PGA Championships in Kohler, Wisconsin, last month - the best ever finish by an Indian at a major golf championship. Before that, he won four titles on the Asian Tour - two of them sanctioned by the European tour -, finished 30th at the British Open and made the cut at the Masters.
Praise has come from all quarters for Lahiri. His main sponsor, Pawan Kant Munjal of Hero MotoCorp, calls him a "model sportsperson". Jeev Milkha Singh, whose record Lahiri broke, says Lahiri's success "shows that Indian golf is on the right path".
"Being an army kid meant easy access to golf courses; I used to accompany my dad to the course," he says. That was his initiation and for the most part of his early years, he ended up playing with no one of his age. Lahiri, in fact, also took a keen interest in squash but soon followed his dream on the golf course.
The first tournament he played as a junior golfer was at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club at the age of 12. In 2004, he rose to the number four rank among juniors in India. Two years later, he won the silver at the Asian Games. A year later, he turned pro and started playing on the Asian Tour in 2008. His first tournament win on the Professional Golf Tour of India followed a year later.
The first few years were tough on him both on the course and financially. In 2010, Hero's association with Lahiri began and he started winning regularly on the Indian circuit. Money started to come in. In 2011, he recorded his first win on the Asian Tour.
"Lahiri always had immense talent. I remember watching him on the Indian Tour and was very impressed," recalls golfer Digvijay Singh.
Lahiri is coached by Vijay Divecha, who says that he marvels at the golfer's desire and hunger to win. "He is psychologically very strong and to achieve so much at such a young age is remarkable. The best part is that he doesn't rest on his laurels and wants to achieve more." At 28, Lahiri feels that he is beginning to get towards the top of his game. "I look at my recent performances as a stepping stone to achieve more," he says.
The psychological part that his coach mentions perhaps comes from the fact that Lahiri is into meditation. He doesn't meditate daily but has been doing it for the last 10 years now. It helps him keep calm in pressure situations. In fact, he visited a meditation centre in Brussels earlier this and even did "seva" there.
It was the Professional Golf Tour of India that gave him support during his initial years. Padamjit Sandhu, its director, says Lahiri "is hard working and has a very mature head".
Lahiri, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, had said that if you aren't a cricketer in India, you are nobody. Things have changed for him since then. When he came back from Wisconsin last month, there were several people to greet him at the Bengaluru airport. Banners like "We are proud of you" and "Baan-tastic" greeted him on his arrival.
Even sponsors are now casting glances at him. Sports Mantra, a sports management company, manages him and his endorsements. Hero already sponsors him and Italian designer brand Chervo has signed him on a multi-year deal.
Kwan Entertainment and Marketing Solutions COO Indranil Das Blah believes Lahiri has the potential to be known as "India's best golfer of all time". However, as far as brands are concerned, he believes that 90 per cent of India's population doesn't know the best golfers of the country! "Mass brands won't look at him unless he cracks the top 10 or wins a major championship. But luxury watch brands or real estate brands could fit in very well with someone of his profile," he says.
There were reports about Rolex being keen to sign him on. Sports Mantra CEO Neeraj Sareen was unavailable to comment on Lahiri's meteoric rise and how brands are looking at him.
Lahiri is known to be a very good cook and improved his cooking skills while living and training in Bengaluru. He is also fond of reading murder mysteries and playing computer games. Lahiri doesn't take too many holidays - two weeks in a year at the most - and is dedicated to his fitness. His training regimen includes gym sessions, yoga and mental training sessions as well.
Lahiri has already achieved a lot. Jeev Milkha Singh was 37 when he broke into the top 30 in the world. Arjun Atwal was of the same age when he became the first Indian to win a PGA Tour Championship. Lahiri is ranked 38th in the world right now and has already qualified for the prestigious President's Cup, a team event, where Rest of The World takes on the United States.
And then there are the 2016 Olympics in Rio for which he is India's best hope of qualification as there are only 60 spots on offer and players will be eligible on the basis of their world rankings.
This is just the beginning for Lahiri and he knows that. "Bigger and tougher tests are yet to come," he says. In all likelihood, judging by his past record, Lahiri will be ready for them.
The 28-year-old golfer, who lives in Bengaluru, finished fifth at the PGA Championships in Kohler, Wisconsin, last month - the best ever finish by an Indian at a major golf championship. Before that, he won four titles on the Asian Tour - two of them sanctioned by the European tour -, finished 30th at the British Open and made the cut at the Masters.
Praise has come from all quarters for Lahiri. His main sponsor, Pawan Kant Munjal of Hero MotoCorp, calls him a "model sportsperson". Jeev Milkha Singh, whose record Lahiri broke, says Lahiri's success "shows that Indian golf is on the right path".
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Like many other golf players, Lahiri spent his childhood in cantonments: his father is a doctor in the armed forces. He was introduced to the sport by his father, a recreational golfer, at Roorkee. Because of his father's job, Lahiri, a Bengali, grew up all over the country (he can speak Punjabi fluently) and has been living in Bengaluru for close to 10 years now.
"Being an army kid meant easy access to golf courses; I used to accompany my dad to the course," he says. That was his initiation and for the most part of his early years, he ended up playing with no one of his age. Lahiri, in fact, also took a keen interest in squash but soon followed his dream on the golf course.
The first tournament he played as a junior golfer was at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club at the age of 12. In 2004, he rose to the number four rank among juniors in India. Two years later, he won the silver at the Asian Games. A year later, he turned pro and started playing on the Asian Tour in 2008. His first tournament win on the Professional Golf Tour of India followed a year later.
The first few years were tough on him both on the course and financially. In 2010, Hero's association with Lahiri began and he started winning regularly on the Indian circuit. Money started to come in. In 2011, he recorded his first win on the Asian Tour.
"Lahiri always had immense talent. I remember watching him on the Indian Tour and was very impressed," recalls golfer Digvijay Singh.
Lahiri is coached by Vijay Divecha, who says that he marvels at the golfer's desire and hunger to win. "He is psychologically very strong and to achieve so much at such a young age is remarkable. The best part is that he doesn't rest on his laurels and wants to achieve more." At 28, Lahiri feels that he is beginning to get towards the top of his game. "I look at my recent performances as a stepping stone to achieve more," he says.
The psychological part that his coach mentions perhaps comes from the fact that Lahiri is into meditation. He doesn't meditate daily but has been doing it for the last 10 years now. It helps him keep calm in pressure situations. In fact, he visited a meditation centre in Brussels earlier this and even did "seva" there.
It was the Professional Golf Tour of India that gave him support during his initial years. Padamjit Sandhu, its director, says Lahiri "is hard working and has a very mature head".
Lahiri, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, had said that if you aren't a cricketer in India, you are nobody. Things have changed for him since then. When he came back from Wisconsin last month, there were several people to greet him at the Bengaluru airport. Banners like "We are proud of you" and "Baan-tastic" greeted him on his arrival.
Even sponsors are now casting glances at him. Sports Mantra, a sports management company, manages him and his endorsements. Hero already sponsors him and Italian designer brand Chervo has signed him on a multi-year deal.
Kwan Entertainment and Marketing Solutions COO Indranil Das Blah believes Lahiri has the potential to be known as "India's best golfer of all time". However, as far as brands are concerned, he believes that 90 per cent of India's population doesn't know the best golfers of the country! "Mass brands won't look at him unless he cracks the top 10 or wins a major championship. But luxury watch brands or real estate brands could fit in very well with someone of his profile," he says.
There were reports about Rolex being keen to sign him on. Sports Mantra CEO Neeraj Sareen was unavailable to comment on Lahiri's meteoric rise and how brands are looking at him.
Lahiri is known to be a very good cook and improved his cooking skills while living and training in Bengaluru. He is also fond of reading murder mysteries and playing computer games. Lahiri doesn't take too many holidays - two weeks in a year at the most - and is dedicated to his fitness. His training regimen includes gym sessions, yoga and mental training sessions as well.
Lahiri has already achieved a lot. Jeev Milkha Singh was 37 when he broke into the top 30 in the world. Arjun Atwal was of the same age when he became the first Indian to win a PGA Tour Championship. Lahiri is ranked 38th in the world right now and has already qualified for the prestigious President's Cup, a team event, where Rest of The World takes on the United States.
And then there are the 2016 Olympics in Rio for which he is India's best hope of qualification as there are only 60 spots on offer and players will be eligible on the basis of their world rankings.
This is just the beginning for Lahiri and he knows that. "Bigger and tougher tests are yet to come," he says. In all likelihood, judging by his past record, Lahiri will be ready for them.