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Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev has urged Indian athletes participating in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics to perform fearlessly and expressed hope that the country will surpass its previous medal tally. India will be represented by a contingent of 117 athletes in Paris, aiming to improve upon the seven medals won in Tokyo.Dev, who is also the president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), advised the athletes to express themselves without hesitation. He believes that India has the potential to achieve a double-digit medal count. However, he declined to comment on Indian cricket and the newly appointed head coach, Gautam Gambhir.Dev expressed his optimism for the growth of golf in India, recalling his own experience playing amateur events. He hopes that the sport will reach the same heights as cricket in the future. He emphasized the importance of sponsorship in promoting the game and predicted that golf could reach significant milestones within five years.The Trinity Golf Champions League (TGCL), which Dev is an ambassador for, is expanding to eight teams this year, including one from Sri Lanka. The league will be held in Bengaluru from September 2 to 7 and will feature a unique format similar to the Ryder Cup. Each team will comprise 20 players, including professionals, celebrities, and amateurs.The winning team will receive a prize of Rs 30 lakh, while the second and third-placed teams will receive Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, respectively. Dev expressed his hope that the prize money for the TGCL winners will reach one million dollars within the next five years.

Manu Gandas, the 27-year-old golfer from Gurugram, faced a challenging first season on the DP World Tour (European Tour) in 2023. Despite qualifying by topping the PGTI Order of Merit, he made only five cuts in 25 appearances."The results didn't go my way, but I've gained invaluable experience," said Gandas, whose best finish was a tied-20th at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational in Northern Ireland. "I now understand the demands of competing with world-class golfers in challenging conditions."Gandas has shown signs of improvement in the 2024 PGTI season, winning the Players Championship in Kolkata and finishing 13th at the Vooty Masters. He is now eyeing a strong performance at the Hero Indian Open, a DP World Tour event on his home course.This year's Indian Open will feature a record prize purse of $2.25 million and will be the second of five events comprising the Asian Swing. The tournament will attract 144 players, including 2015 champion Anirban Lahiri, Indian veteran Shiv Kapur, and three-time DP World Tour winner Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium."I'll try to apply my learnings," said Gandas, who finished tied-32nd last year. "The DLF course can be intimidating, especially in windy conditions."Reflecting on his European experience, Gandas highlighted the colder, windier, and wetter conditions, which affect warm-up time and distances. He also noted the longer courses, which test the long game.Gandas has been troubled by recurring niggles in his right wrist and left ankle. "I've been playing with pain for the past 2-3 years," he said. "This season, I'm prioritizing rest and physical strengthening to improve my yardage."Despite the challenges, Gandas remains determined. "There were times of self-doubt, but as an athlete, you must persevere," he said. "I had support from Shubhankar, but homesickness can be a factor. Technical and mental inputs from tour regulars were helpful, but speaking to my coach Anitya Chand was invaluable."Meanwhile, Indian Golf Union (IGU) President Brijinder Singh announced plans to hire a National Development Manager (NDM) and National High Performance Manager (NHPM). "We're interviewing candidates and expect to appoint an NDM by early April," he said. "The NHPM will be an established player with a strong commitment to golf."