September 1st 2014, New Delhi: Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Anirban Lahiri marked a milestone in his golfing career when he received the prestigious Arjuna award from the President of India on Friday.
Lahiri, a four-time winner on the region’s premier Tour, became the ninth Indian golfer following the likes of Gaganjeet Bhullar and Arjun Atwal to receive the coveted award at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
“The award means a lot to me. It’s not something that you play golf for but receiving the award from the President, in front of my proud parents, made it really special,” Lahiri said on Saturday.
Lahiri, who turned professional in 2007, had claimed a total of 15 titles in his career and is the highest placed Indian golfer in the world with a current ranking of 94th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
The 27-year-old had also secured his first win outside of India at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters earlier in April which propelled him to 67th place on the world rankings. He rose to a career-high 65th following a tied-sixth finish at The Championship at Laguna National in Singapore a week after.
“The last two days have been unforgettable. We went there for the rehearsals the day before to the Durbar Hall, interacting with other athletes there and I could just admire the venue,” said Lahiri.
“I hardly get to meet my parents these days. So I spent whatever time I could with them. My parents were really proud and happy. They have given up a lot and made a lot of sacrifices to get me where are I am,” added Lahiri.