Pakistan are hoping to make their presence felt at the Asian Amateur Championships which tees off from Thursday (tomorrow) at the New Course at Island Country Club in Singapore.
With top amateurs from 36 Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) member states featuring in the championships, Pakistan face a tough task in the four-day event.
However, the Pakistanis are confident of giving their best in the tournament where they will be spearheaded by the seasoned Taimur Hassan, the most accomplished amateur golfer produced by the country.
Taimur, who is also the secretary of the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF), is at the helm of the national team that also includes his son Hamza Amin, Ali Hai, Wasim Rana and Muhammad Rahman.
The championships’ winner will receive an invite to the 2012 Masters Tournament and together with the runner-up a place in the international final qualifying for the 2012 Open Championship.
Each member country can field a maximum of six players. The championship will have a maximum field of 120 players.
The Championship, organised by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and supported by the Masters Tournament and The R&A, will determine the region’s top golfer of 2011.
Present at the event will be Sir Nick Faldo, a three-time winner at the Masters and the Open, who will speak at a private dinner for players and officials.
Meanwhile, India will be vying for the title at the Championships. Led by Asian Games silver medallist Abhijit Chadha, India will field a strong six-man team for the spectacle that concludes on October 2.
The Indian team includes Chadha, a member of the silver medal winning Indian team at Asian Games 2010 and winner of last year’s Faldo Series Asia, national champion S Chikkarangappa, Trishul Chinappa, Angad Cheema, Honey Baisoya and Khalin Joshi.