Young Indian Golfers Shine Bright at US Kids Indian Championship in Manesar
Indian Juniors Dominate on Home Turf
Manesar — The fifth edition of the US Kids Golf Indian Championship witnessed a remarkable display of talent from young Indian golfers, who dominated their categories with poise and precision at the Classic Golf & Country Club in Haryana. NewsDrum
Despite early morning smog and a delayed start that forced organisers to trim the final round to nine holes for all age groups, India’s junior stars stood tall and clinched top honours across multiple divisions. NewsDrum
Standout Performances Among Boys
In the Boys categories, Nihal Cheema was the standout performer in the Boys 8 division, posting consistent rounds and emerging as a clear winner with par-or-better scores across all days. NewsDrum
Drona Singh Dhull impressed in the Boys 11 class with a brilliant 4-under 32 in the final round, featuring four birdies without a bogey. NewsDrum
Meanwhile, Prince Bainsla posted the tournament’s best score — a stunning 6-under 66 on the opening day — as he powered to victory in the Boys 15-18 division.
Other notable performers included Taanush Kumar, Vedaansh Jain, Siddhant Sharma, and Arihaan Beri across various age groups.
Girls Bring Their A-Game Too
The girls’ competition was equally thrilling. Aanya Dandriyal in the Girls 11-12 category battled Malaysia’s Choi Quinn Cie for top spot, eventually clinching the title in a tie-breaker after an impressive regulation round.
In younger age groups, Naaysha S Sinha (Girls 8), Gairat Kaur Kahlon (Girls 9-10), and Shiksha Jain (Girls 13-14) delivered strong performances to secure top honours in their respective divisions.
Preitisha Kaur Gill dominated the Girls 15-18 category with her consistent play throughout the tournament.
Cash Prizes and Future Goals
For the first time in the championship’s history, organisers introduced cash awards for the top five finishers in each category, with winners receiving ₹25,000, runners-up ₹10,000 and third to fifth places ₹5,000 each — a move aimed at encouraging more families to support junior golfers.
Rajesh Srivastava, President and Founder of US Kids Golf India and Asia, said the incentives aim to make the sport more attractive and support families in nurturing young champions. He also hinted at future plans to bring in foreign coaches and expand opportunities for international training.
A Bright Future for Indian Youth Golf
As the curtain fell on a thrilling championship, it was clear that Indian juniors are making their mark on the golf scene. Their resilience and skill in challenging conditions reflect a promising future for the sport in the country — and beyond.
