Set to explore different avenues

QUICK MONEY is alluring. In fact, it is irresistible. For some, the idea of representing one's country in a major sporting event overpowers any other attraction.

So, when India's best amateur golfer on the scene, Ashok Kumar, weighs in the progress of his career after having won all that which matters, it is not only for the moolah but for a host of other avenues which he can explore.

Rising from a humble beginning, Ashok Kumar has spent years playing on various golf courses all over the country, and with admirable results. The golfer now increasingly feels that his amateur career has come a full circle.

``My career is in pro golf. I don't want to waste any more time,'' Ashok Kumar said after winning the amateur title in the PGAI Indian Masters at the Army Golf Course in New Delhi. But, he is playing his cards cautiously, biding for time.

This is all for the distinction and satisfaction of representing the country at a multi-sport extravaganza - the Asian Games.

Ashok Kumar has a little more than a year to realise his dream - to participate in the Games at Pusan, and to bring the gold medal back to India which was won by, Amit Luthra and co., in the 1982 New Delhi Asiad. The cash-strapped Games are scheduled to be held in Pusan from September 29 to October 14.

``My ambition is to make it to the Indian team for the Pusan Asian Games. I expect to do good there and then call off my amateur status,'' says Ashok.

Though discussing the composition of the Indian team for next year's Games would be premature, Ashok stands atop other contenders. Rahil Gangee, Antiya Chand, Keshav Mishra and Simranjeet Singh are also in the race.

Should Ashok turn pro soon after the Games, he would be the youngest Indian golfer to do so - at 19.

When Chiranjeev Milkha Singh turned pro in 1993, he was 22, as also Jyoti Randhawa (1994) and Arjun Atwal (1995) - Indian Golf's ambassadors on the international scene. Gaurav Ghei was 23 while Arjun Singh waited till he became 25 to take the plunge into the pro circuit.

The age advantage will give Ashok a lot of time and opportunity to shape up his pro career. All he needs to do is have a good coach and a guide to give direction to his pursuit.

Golf is an addiction. But it is being more of an individualistic sport, one needs to define his goals.

Ashok needs to look farther than what is in store in India. Most of the caddie-turned-pro Indian golfers have seldom crossed the seas and participated in the international tours.

Vijay Kumar and Mukesh Kumar, the two heavyweights of the domestic circuit, seem to be happy with the situation. Both are earning well from the sport by playing in the Indian circuit. Ali Sher and Feroz Ali also treaded the same path.

In contrast, Randhawa, Ghei and Chiranjeev Milkha Singh all had their visions focussed on bigger things. And, over the years, all have made their mark on the Davidoff Asian PGA Tour.

Randhawa also had a dream of representing India. He did so, in the 1994 Hiroshima Games. The then 22-year-old returned with a miserable performance, and soon announced his decision to become a pro. The next seven years have been fruitful for him in many ways. Apart from winning four titles on the Davidoff Tour, he finished a creditable second on the Order of Merit in 2000. Randhawa's other memorable moment was to become only the second Indian, after Ghei, to qualify for the main draw of the prestigious British Open at St. Andrews.

Ashok Kumar has several options. This season, his insatiable thirst has seen him win nine trophies from 15 tournaments. In the overall standings on the leader board at every event he participated, he often finished in the top 20 if not in the top 10.

Consider this. Had he been a pro, Ashok would have pocketed several lakhs in prize money. Instead, he settled for the Cups and the Plaques.

This calm and composed golfer, however, had a turbulent past. At the age of 13, when Ashok used to be a fore caddie at the Air Force Golf Club, he was thrown out of the club following a misunderstanding with a member.

That should have come as a huge shock to Ashok as he and his brother were the only earning members of the farming family from Samastipur, Bihar. The two were making Rs. 1,500 per month to feed four brothers and the parents.

Luck smiled at him. The sacking from Air Force Club came as a blessing in disguise.

``Had he not been thrown out, he would have rotted as a caddie in the Air Force Golf Club (due to lack of exposure and playing facilities),'' says Amit Luthra, the man behind Ashok Kumar's rise to this level.

Ashok used to be Luthra's fore caddie at the Club about eight years ago.

``Apart from being a good fore caddy, what I liked about him was his confidence in himself. Whenever I used to chip and putt, he would challenge me to a match and bet his daily wages thereon, knowing fully well that I was the top amateur in India,'' recalls Luthra. ``Of course, I never claimed them.'' And, when Ashok got a jolt of being thrown out, Luthra was there to help him.

``He approached me for help and I made him my caddie and got him a permanent job at the Delhi Golf Club Course. I also enrolled him in DGC's Junior training programme,'' says Luthra.

The 1982 Asian Games gold medallist Luthra then got Ashok going. Luthra purchased a Swilken golf set and presented it to Ashok, and when the youngster turned 15, his mentor got him a `X12' Callaway graphite set to get him on a level playing field with his rich counterparts.

Thereafter there was no stopping him. He was the top sub-junior in 1997-98, followed by the top junior in 1998-99 and topper among men in 1999-2000.

During the course, he collected several international amateur titles including Singapore Junior Amateur 1998; Ericsson International Golf Championship - Asia Pacific - 1999; Hero Honda Masters 1999; Wills Indian Open 2000; Second SAARC Games 2000 (team and individual); Malaysian Amateurs 2000 (team); Third SAARC Games 2001 (team and individual) and Indian Open 2001.

With one full year ahead of him as an amateur and two-month-long lean period on the Indian circuit, Ashok is heading to Malaysia to hone his skills.

Ashok, who is leaving this weekend, will complete a month-long stint with Australian coach Kel Llewynell. The Aussie is based in Malaysia and the coach is expected to chart out a programme for Ashok for the remaining year.

``My immediate aim after the training is to participate in the World Cup in Europe,'' says Ashok, a sports apprentice with the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL).

KIRTI PATIL

New Delhi

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