New Delhi, 23rd December 2008: Ballarpur Industries Ltd. (BILT - an Avantha Group company), India’s largest paper manufacturer and Aircel Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), ‘the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India’, today announced the schedule for the BILT Open 2008 at a press conference held in Delhi. The announcement was made by Mr. Yogesh Agarwal, COO, BILT and Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI. Key players competing in the tournament – Mr. Jeev Milkha Singh (winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit for 2008 and member of the Indian World Cup team in 2008); Mr. Jyoti Randhawa (member of the Indian World Cup team in 2008) and Mr. Mukesh Kumar (current Aircel PGTI Order of Merit Leader) were also present.

The tournament has been conceptualised and organised by BILT and Aircel PGTI in association with Sport18, and Taylor Made.

Mr. Yogesh Agarwal, COO, BILT said, “We welcome all the players to the tournament. Now in its third year, the BILT Open has become one of the most awaited tournaments of the season. The field this time is one of the best we have had and boasts of names like Jeev Milkha Singh, Shiv Kapur, Gaurav Ghei and Jyoti Randhawa. We are confident that events like the BILT Open will help generate greater interest in the game, both at the corporate level and among the players.”

BILT Open 2008 is one of the richest golf tournaments on the domestic and PGTI Tour with a total purse of Rs. 80 lakh. The winner of the tournament will get to take home Rs. 12,93,200.

PGTI Director Mr. Padamjit Sandhu said, “On behalf of PGTI, I would like to thank BILT for their continued support. The BILT Open is one of the most coveted titles on the Aircel PGTI calendar. A special acknowledgement to Mr. Gautam Thapar and the Avantha Group for their strong support through 2007-08 and for confirming their support to Aircel PGTI in the 2009 season as well.”

The tournament is scheduled from 25th – 28th December 2008 and the Pro-Am will be played on 24th December. The tournament is a 72-hole strokeplay championship and the cut will be applied after 36 holes. Thereafter, the top 50 players and ties will play over the weekend.

“The BILT open marks a fitting finale to an exciting 2007-08 season. In the year gone by, the number of tournaments went up as compared to 2007 and the total purse for the year also increased. The season also saw a tie-up with the Asian Tour which was a major achievement. The year 2009 will see PGTI go international. We have confirmed our first PGTI event in Bangladesh and are hopeful of staging events in Nepal and Sri Lanka too,” added Mr. Sandhu.

Ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh said, “I'm very excited about playing the BILT Open 2008 as this will be my first event on the PGTI this year. I extend my full support to the BILT Open and look forward to the opportunity of playing alongside the best professionals in the country.”

Commenting on the growing support from corporate houses, Jeev said, “Golf is the fastest growing sport in India & in recent years has received a tremendous boost from corporate India in the form of sponsorships. The Avantha Group alone sponsors four tournaments on the PGTI. I would like to thank Avantha Chairman Mr. Gautam Thapar for his unfailing support to professional golf in India.”

Jyoti Randhawa, who won the first BILT Open in 2006 said, “I am extremely excited to be playing the BILT Open 2008. The competitive field playing this year will ensure that the fans get to see the best golf action at the event. A special thanks to BILT and the AVANTHA Group for their continued support to professional golf in India.”

Added Mukesh Kumar, “One of the richest tournaments in the domestic circuit, BILT Open showcases the highest level of competition in the country. I am delighted to be competing with the best talent in this tournament.”

 

(Standing from Left to Right) - Mr. Shiv Kapur; Mr. Jeev Milkha Singh (Winner Asian Tour Order of Merit); Mr. Padamjit Sandhu (Business Head & Director Sales & Marketing); Mr. Yogesh Agarwal (COO , BILT); Mr. Mukesh Kumar (Leader Aircel PGTI Order of Merit) and Mr. Jyoti Randhawa