Qatar-based Panceltica sign up Jeev, Chowrasia and Uthappa

New Delhi, Jun 6 (UNI) Talented middle-order batsman Robin Uthappa and ace golfers Jeev Milkha Singh and S S P Chowrasia have been signed by the Qatar-based Panaceltica- a costruction company in a single swoop.

Jeev and Chowrasia are two of India's leading golfers and are regulars on the European and Asian Tour golf tours, while Uthappa was a member of the Indian T20 World Cup winning team and one of the star players in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL).

The three sign-ups are the first major initiative in the sports sponsorship for Panceltica Holdings Ltd, a leader in fast track construction in West Asia, who are looking to extend their business to the growing Indian market.

Panceltica, who were recently listed on the AIM stock market in London, build fast track housing and largescale building projects in the Gulf with their proprietary technology that halves construction time when compared to local traditional methods.

Commenting on the partnership, Chief Executive Panceltica's Paul Fraser said, ''Cricket has always been a huge part of India's sporting culture and has been further enhanced with the introduction of the IPL.'' ''Golf has also recently become increasingly taken off in the country with emerging talent including Jeev and SSP both enjoying victory on the European Tour. Both sports have always been a personal passion of mine making this union particularly exciting for myself and the company. I am sure our partnership will be successful and rewarding for all parties and I look forward to working with them,'' he added.

Jeev, one of the standard bearers of Indian golf, was Asian Tour Number one in 2006, a year when he won four titles, including European Tour's flagship event, the Volvo masters of Europe at Valderrama. That to-date is the biggest win for any golfer.

He also achieved a career-best world ranking of Number 37 which enabled him to become the first Indian to play all four Majors in a single year in 2007. Carrying on the excellent work, Jeev, who has twice finished runner-up on the European Tour and currently lies second on Asian Tour's Money List, was also invited for the 2008 Augusta Masters, where he made the cut for the second succssive year.

Jeev, son of the world-famous athlete Milkha Singh, was honoured in 2007 with the prestigious Padmashri Award, an award his father had been honoured with nearly 50 years ago in 1958 for winning Commonwealth Games gold medal in 440 yards.

Barely three years after hitting the Asian Tour, Chowrasia, hit world headlines, when he stunned a world-class field including Ernie Els and Darren Clarke to triumph at the inaugural Emaar-MGF Indian Masters here earlier this year.

The win made him just the third Indian golfer to win on the European tour, following Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh.

Both Jeev and Chowrasia now divide their time between European and Asian Tours and hope to get on to the PGA Tour in the near future.

The 23-year-old Uthappa is one of the most attractive batsman on the Indian cricket scene. Son of a former international hockey referee, Uthappa first came to spotlight when he was a useful member of the India under-19 team that won the Asia Cup.

He then figured in the high-profile Indian win over England with a nerveless unbeaten 47 off only 33 balls at The Oval in the sixth One Day International.

Last year Uthappa again stood out in the Indian team at the T20 World Cup, when he became the first Indian batsman to score a half century in a Twenty20 game against Pakistan. He also bowled one of the successful deliveries in the bowl out against Pakistan to take India further in the tournament, and finally to the title itself.

Last month he figured prominently for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and is now on his way to Bangladesh for the tri-series.

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