Jeev and Chawrasia ready for 'big' test at Volvo China Open

Jeev Milkha Singh and SSP Chawrasia will be among the handful of Indians competing at the 25th edition of the Volvo China Open.

Interestingly, one of Jeev's four European Tour wins came at this very event in 2006 and he remains to date the only Indian to have won it.

Apart from Jeev and Chawrasia, the other Indians are Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shiv Kapur, Khalin Joshi, Ajeetesh Sandhu and Viraj Madappa. Bhullar, Joshi and Madappa won once each in 2018, while Kapur won three times in Asia in 2017.

Chawrasia is hoping to regain the form that led him to six Asian Tour titles when he tees up for "one of his biggest tests".

Chawrasia's last victory dates back to 2017 when he won on home soil. He has only one top-10 finish on the Asian Tour last year and missed the cut in all four events he played in the Middle East since the start of 2019.

The 40-year-old, however, bounced back by featuring in the weekend rounds in Malaysia and India last month and sees that as a sign of better things to come as he readies himself for the challenge at the Volvo China Open, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Jeev's win in 2006 at Volvo China ended a long drought for him as he had previously won in 1999. He won three more times in 2006, including twice in Japan, and rose to Top-50 and played the Masters for three years from 2007.

He was also Asian Tour's player of the Year in 2006 and 2008. His last European Tour was the Scottish open in 2012, where he injured himself and that injury has seen him fall ever since.

"Maybe Volvo China Open will revive my happy memories," said Jeev.

Bhullar won his maiden European Tour title at the Fiji International and is looking to make his way back to Top-100 and higher, while Joshi won the Panasonic Open on Asian Tour and Madappa won the Take Solutions, also on Asian Tour last year.

Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana is also hopeful of continuing his lightning start to his rookie season following his breakthrough in Bangladesh earlier this month.