Jeev for public golf courses in India

Chandigarh, Dec 30 (UNI) Ace Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh has suggested ''public golf courses'' should be developed across the country to popularise the game.

''There is hardly any public golf course in the country. The corporate houses must be involved in developing, promoting and sponsoring golf in the country in a big way,'' said Jeev who also stressed that the Indian golfers need recognition and respect.

Jeev who was addressing a gathering after receiving the first ''Punjab Golf Rattan Award'' by the Punjab Golf Association here last night, said that there was no dearth of talent in the country.

''There was just the need to spot and train them.'' ''We must make an all out efforts to popularise this game and help players adopt it as their career. The situation should be such that the parents themselves found it worth encouraging their children to play Golf,'' said Jeev, who has made name, fame and money by pursuing the game.

Later talking to newsmen, Jeev Milkha replying to a question, said ''I have to take care of my wrist injury. I have been advised rest for recovery. To overcome pressure, I perform yoga six days a week. I wish to continue to play up to the age of 50.'' ''And then there is masters golf and I will continue to play golf throughout my life,'' Jeev said to cheers.

Jeev thanked the Punjab Golf Association's gesture for felicitating him and promised that he would more hard to become number one golfer in the world.

This was dream shared by his famous father, the ''flying Sikh'' Milkha Singh who said, ''before I or Mrs Nirmal Milkha die, we want Jeev to become the number one golfer in the world.'' UNI XC JN DH VC1845