Golfer Siddikur aims at retaining Indian Open title

Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman is looking forward to a return to his favourite hunting ground at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) next week, a venue which has rewarded him with a string of top results including an emphatic victory at the 2013 Indian Open.

The popular Bangladeshi has played in 11 Asian Tour events at the DGC since 2010 and has posted one win and eight other top-10s, including two runner-up finishes. His fine record will make him as one of the top contenders at the $1.5 million Indian Open, which will be sanctioned by the Asian and European Tour for the first time between Feb 19-22.

Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, who is a two-time Indian Open champion, Angelo Que of the Philippines, Prayad Marksaeng, an eight-time Asian Tour winner, Englishman Steve Lewton and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain will also feature at the prestigious event along with in-form Anirban Lahiri, who won the Malaysian Open last week.

Joining them in the elite field include former Indian Open champions Arjun Atwal, C. Muniyappa, Jyoti Randhawa, Firoz Ali and David Gleeson of Australia.

Siddikur, the first Bangladeshi to play and win on the Asian Tour, recently got married in Dhaka and hopes to give himself the perfect wedding gift by successfully retaining the Indian Open, which was not staged last year.

The 30-year-old, who was part of Team Asia which secured a thrilling 10-10 tie against Europe at the inaugural EurAsia Cup in Malaysia last year, believes his straight-shooting game will continue to be a good omen.

"You must have a lot of patience at DGC. I've played on the course many times and I know it well. It is a course which definitely suits my game because I'm a straight hitter. You must really plan your shots properly," said Siddikur.

Korea's Wang Jeung-hun, Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand and Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka, who lost in a play-off at the 2014 Panasonic Open India at the same venue, are among the notable young golfers aiming for a career-first victory next week.