LAHORE, July 29: Defending champions India consider hosts, Pakistan, as their main rival in the three-day sixth Saarc golf championship which tees off at the newly-built Royal Palm Golf and Country Club from Friday.
" Pakistani players are talented and have the home course advantage which I believe is very important, therefore, I consider the home side as tough rivals", Simarjeet Singh said after having a practice session on Thursday.
When informed that the experts were rating the Sri Lankans as more formidable, Simarjeet admitted that the team from the Island was good but he foresees tough opposition from Pakistan.
He dispelled the impression that the Indian players were under pressure as competition between the two neighbouring countries had been contested under must-win situation.
"No, there is no such pressure and we are considering the occasion as a friendship one and there is no pressure of must-win but we will try to play to our true potential and to get the positive results", he said.
Jaskirat Singh Dullet said that the Pakistan had the potential to give tough time to both India and Sri Lanka. Manav Das remarked that he found the course in excellent condition and it was comparable to the courses in Malaysia and India.
He said that it was his first visit to Pakistan but he was not under any pressure of the competition. "Its all looking nice here and I expect a memorable stay in Pakistan", he said.
Meanwhile, the Indian women team will not take part in the ladies' event under mysterious circumstances. The Indian golf federation had sent the names of Mrs Shastika Shrestha and Mrs Pushpa Rai in the two-member team. Although the players reached here, but they will take part.
The Indian team manager Satish Aparajit said that the women would not take part owing to their inadequate preparation due to shortage of time. He denied the impression that there was some dispute in the Indian golf federation over the selection of the women team.
However, he said that the Indian ladies would play in the Friendship Trophy to be held over 18 holes on Sunday. After India's exit, only three countries- Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka- will take part in the women's event.
The Sri Lankan's women team member Jacqueline Anysa Dias said that her team would try to win the competition. She avoided to declare the close rival of Sri Lanka, saying she could not say any thing, since the ladies' event had beenincluded for the first time and no one knows the weak and strong points of any others.
Miss Kishani said that she ranked No 4 in Sri Lanka and had played in some international tournament. Pakistan team comprising Jamila Jabbar and Tahira Nazir held practice.
Meanwhile, the Punjab governor Khalid Maqbool formally inaugurated the championship in a simple but impressive ceremony in the afternoon on Thursday. All the teams took part in the march-past.
In three-days, the golfers will vie in three events - SAARC championship, Friendship Cup and Ladies event. The course will be hosting the first tournament as the Pakistan Golf Federation has given the affiliation to the club early this month. The course is 6847 yards long with a par of 72 (36 going out and as many coming in).
The course with its undulating fairways, water hazards and fast greens will provide a real challenge to the competing golfers. India will defend their title for the consecutive sixth time. The first event will tee off at 8.30am.
