Kapil begins favourite

Cricket legend Kapil Dev will start as favourite on his home ground when he tees off at the Indian Golf Union’s all-India senior amateur championship at the Jaypee Greens Golf Course in Noida, on Wednesday.

The captain of the 1983 Cricket World Cup winning team will vie for top honours against the title holder Gangesh Khaitan of Noida and Kolkata’s Lakshman Singh, 1982 Asian Games gold medallist in golf and an Arjuna Awardee.

Another 1982 Asian Games gold medallist Delhi’s Amit Luthra will be a strong contender in a field of 50 players at the three-day strokeplay event.

Players who finish in the top six will form the team for the Asia-Pacific senior amateur championship at the Qingdao Golf Club in China from October 14 to 16.

India finished with a bronze in the 2010 Asia-Pacific senior amateur championship in Thailand.

The Jaypee Green Golf Course is currently hosting the IGU mid amateur championship where Noida’s Simarjeet Singh became the leader after shooting one-over 73 on Day 1 while two shots behind were Delhi’s Vikram Rana and Gagan Verma.