Siddiqur Rahman to compete for US$8 million ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Asia will be well represented at the US$8 million ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club from November 21-24, 2013 with 13 of the continent’s top stars from seven nations, including first-timer Siddikur of Bangladesh, qualifying for the prestigious event.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who are the past and current Asian Tour No. 1s respectively, will spearhead the region’s challenge along with Korea’s K.J. Choi, an Asian Tour honorary member and eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, countryman Bae Sang-moon, India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri, Liang Wen-chong and Wu Ashun of China, Filipino duo Angelo Que and Juvic Pagunsan and Siddikur.
Japan will also be represented in the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, with its two players to be confirmed later.
All eyes will be on Bangladeshi trailblazer Siddikur, who will become the first player from his country to compete in the World Cup. He became the first man to win on the Asian Tour at the 2010 Brunei Open and has since established himself by finishing in the top-10 of the Order of Merit in 2010 and 2011 and 17th last season.
“I’m very excited to represent Bangladesh in the World Cup. This will be the first time that Bangladesh will feature in the World Cup and it’ll be an historic moment. I’ve played in the qualifiers before but have never made it into the event proper, so this is just great,” said the 29-year-old Siddikur.
“It will have a great impact for my country. Golf is getting more popular and people do recognise me along the streets back home and I feel proud to be the flagbearer for golf in my country. There’s no shortcut to success. Hard work and more practice will only make me a better player and that is what I strive to do every day.
“I’ve definitely developed a lot since I started playing on the Asian Tour. My first win in Brunei was something that I’ll never forget and I always try my best to get that second win on the Asian Tour. Hopefully it’ll not be long before I get my hands on another title again,” added the Bangladeshi, who is currently 17th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit following four top-10s.
Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “We are delighted that 13 players from Asia have qualified for the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, which is another strong sign of progress made by our players. Asia will contribute the second highest total number of players in the World Cup after Europe and we have every confidence that our players will compete well.
“It is also fantastic to see that Siddikur has qualified for the World Cup which is a first ever by a Bangladeshi. I am hopeful that his participation at Royal Melbourne will generate a lot of interest on him in Australia and also back home in Bangladesh.”
The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hugh Delahunty, remarked: “We are delighted to welcome so many of Asia’s leading golfers to Melbourne for the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf. Their participation is a reflection of the truly international status of the World Cup.”
The ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, which will be played under a new format this year, will feature an individual competition offering prize money of US$7 million while nations with two qualified players will compete in the team event offering US$1 million in prize money.
The last time Asia won the World Cup was in 2002 through the Japanese team of Shigeki Maruyama and Toshi Izawa. Prior to that, the Chinese Taipei duo of Hsieh Min-nan and Lu Liang-huan triumphed at the 1972 edition in Royal Melbourne.
Torakichi Nakamura and Koichi Ono of Japan were the first Asian pair to win the World Cup in 1957 when the event was held in their home country.
