Krishnov Chopraa back for a third attempt at AAC in Japan

Krishnav Nikhil Chopraa of India plays his stroke from the No. 12 tee ahead of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship being played at the Taiheiyo Club in Gotemba, Japan on Tuesday 01 October 2024. Photograph by AAC.

Khel Today Bureau

Gotemba, Shizuoka, Japan; Krishnav Nikhil Chopraa, who played college golf at the Long Island in the US, is back for a third attempt, while Vedant SIrohi, who is at Webber International University, and Kartik Singh, a member of the Internationals team at Junior President’s Cup, are back for a second time.

Rakshit Dahiya, who has had a fair amount of success on the home circuit of the Indian Golf Union, is the only debutant in the team, as India fields a team of four. In the past India has often had six players.

Three of the four Indians at the 2024 edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship are back for another shot at the title which has some of the best incentives and prizes in amateur golf

The 14-year-old Kartik was confident after playing the Junior Presidents Cup and secured 1.5 points out of three with a one win, one loss and one tie record.

“I have played in the US, but the junior Presidents Cup and the Junior Players before that, was amazing, and it was a great experience,” said Kartik, who won the Singapore Juniors, was third at Junior Players, fourth at Selangor International, was sixth at R&A Juniors and 38^th at Junior PGA, all in the last four months.

Keeping an eye on Kartik was the Indian Golf Union President, Brijinder Singh, who followed him at the practice round.

Chopraa said, “The last two times were great experiences, especially the first one in Thailand in 2022. Last year my game was not at its best, but this time, though I have not played too much, the game is shaping up well.” He was T-12 at the Porter Cup in the US this year and won a few times in summer in India.

Started in 2009, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region.

The champion will receive an invitation to compete in the 2025 Masters Tournament and The 153rd Open, while the runner(s)-up will gain a place in Final Qualifying for The Open.