Raipur
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and DP World PGTI President Kapil Dev jointly inaugurated the Nava Raipur Open 2026 at the Fairway Golf & Lake Resort on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister said hosting more professional golf tournaments will attract visitors, encourage youth participation, and generate opportunities for tourism, hospitality, and local businesses in Nava Raipur.
The Chief Minister and the PGTI President formally opened the tournament with a ceremonial tee-off and unveiled the trophy alongside PGTI Chief Executive Officer Amandeep Johl.
The dignitaries interacted with the participating golfers before addressing the media. The ₹1-crore championship features 132 professionals, including 18 overseas players, competing from 15 to 18 September. The event marks the PGTI’s return to Nava Raipur for its second tournament in 2026, following the inaugural SECL Chhattisgarh Open held earlier this year.
The field includes prominent Indian professionals such as Veer Ahlawat, Manu Gandas, Akshay Sharma, Honey Baisoya, Khalin Joshi, Rashid Khan, and Mhow’s Om Prakash Chouhan.
Ahlawat is set to represent India at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, alongside Yuvraj Sandhu and Saptak Talwar.
International contenders include N Thangaraja and Mithun Perera from Sri Lanka, Stepan Danek from the Czech Republic, Tanapat Pichaikool from Thailand, Jamal Hossain and Badal Hossain from Bangladesh, Subash Tamang from Nepal, Joshua Seale from Uganda, Koichiro Sato and Dominic Piccirillo from the United States, Taiga Tanaka from Japan, Declan Kenny from Ireland, and Sukhraj Singh Gill from Canada.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasized the vision for the city.
“Nava Raipur has been planned as a city of opportunity, and sport must be part of that framework. A national tournament of this scale will promote golf tourism and encourage young people from Chhattisgarh to pursue the sport. It also allows us to showcase our state’s cultural heritage, tribal art, and natural landscapes.”
Kapil Dev highlighted the competitive path for young golfers. “Golf is an Olympic sport, and young Indian players have a clear international stage. When children watch top professionals compete, they see how discipline and consistent effort can take them from junior golf to the Asian Games and the Olympics. Bringing the PGTI to Nava Raipur helps turn that interest into ambition.”
PGTI Chief Executive Officer Amandeep Johl noted the region’s infrastructure strength. “Nava Raipur possesses the necessary infrastructure and potential to emerge as a leading golf destination. Launching a second tournament within the same year reflects our confidence in the venue. With regular professional events and junior programmes, Nava Raipur can aspire to become a major golfing hub.”
The tournament receives support from Title Partner Nava Raipur, Presenting Partner SECL, and Associate Partners Chhattisgarh Tourism and Jindal Steel, alongside PGTI Umbrella Partner DP World.
The Fairway Golf & Lake Resort features an 18-hole, par-69 course designed by Australia’s Pacific Coast Design. Located alongside the 450-acre Jhanjh Lake and bordered by nearly 500 acres of forest, the venue represents the first 18-hole golf course developed in central India.
