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Grant Thornton Bharat and Kapil Dev reunited to further the game of golf through the second edition of the Kapil Dev-Grant Thornton Invitational.
The DLF Golf and Country Club, one of the world’s f i ne st courses, recently hosted the Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton Invitational 2023. KDGT, as it has come to be popularly known, brought together professional and amateur golfers, alongside leaders of India Inc to celebrate the sport and foster a sense of corporate camaraderie. Continuing its legacy from last year, KDGT was presented by DLF and supported by several other championship partners.
Karan Pratap Singh, 23, emerged victorious after firing a steady final round of two-under 70 to prevail by two shots at the tournament. From Gurugram, securing his second career title and marking his second triumph of the season, Singh claimed the winner’s purse of `30 lakh and a luxury car. An ecstatic Singh said, “Winning at my home course is a special feeling. It’s something that I’ve dreamt of for a long time. This win means a lot for me and my family, who came out to watch me on the course.”
The tournament saw a strong line-up of renowned national and international professionals such as Kevin Est eve Rigaill, Sunhit Bishnoi, Rashid Khan, Makoto Iwasaki, Yong-Won Kim, and the maiden KDGT 2022 champion Varun Parikh.
Beyond t he heightened competition on the course, the tournament serves to grow golf in India and make it a more popular sport.
Vishesh C Chandiok, CEO, Grant Thornton Bharat, said, “Our vision is to build an ecosystem of the various communities that shape a better India across governments, businesses, finance and, of course, sports. We envisage a future where golf i s everyone’s game, allowing players to foster diversity and build connections.
The second Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton Invitational, a PGTI event with prize money of `2 crore, is a premier and unique event that furthers this vision like no other.” Cricket legend and former Indian captain Kapil Dev also voiced his support for the tournament. “Cricket has always been a popular sport in India, but it is high time we start giving due importance to other sports as well,” he said. “I wish to see the same amount of love and anticipation for golf, as it not only allows us to network and meet new people, but also gives us a chance to experience collaborative sportsmanship at its best.”
Grant Thornton Bharat is working towards making golf more diverse, accessible and inclusive. This combination of golf, cricket and corporate participation is a step in the right direction for Indian golf. Having built India’s award winning sports consulting practices, the firm is working closely with governments, states and corporate to build world-class sports infrastructure in the country.
KDGT exemplifies its commitment to diversity by featuring several initiatives aimed at empowering women, amateur and junior golfers. The tournament was are sounding success, attracting top Indian and international cricket legends, including Yuvraj Singh, Courtney Walsh, Ross Taylor, Kevin O’Brien, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Michael Bevan, Roger Binny and Richard Levi who played alongside professional golfers.
The event not only showcased the best of Indian golf but also provided a platform for discussions around diversity and inclusion in business and sports. As the curtains closed on the Kapil Dev -Grant Thornton Invitational 2023, the anticipation for next year’s tournament is already buzzing in the air, promising an even more spectacular integration of business and sports.
This story appeared in ET Panache - Delhi Edition on the 11th of December.