Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) President Kapil Dev jointly inaugurated the Nava Raipur Open 2026 at the Fairway Golf & Lake Resort on Tuesday.
The professional golf tournament is being held from September 15 to 18, with a ₹1 crore prize purse and 132 professional golfers, including 18 overseas players.
Sai, Kapil Dev Unveil Trophy
The tournament was formally opened with a ceremonial tee-off and trophy unveiling in the presence of PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl.
The dignitaries also interacted with participating golfers before addressing the media.
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The tournament is supported by Nava Raipur as Title Partner, SECL as Presenting Partner, and Chhattisgarh Tourism and Jindal Steel as Associate Partners.
CM Highlights Tourism and Youth Participation
CM Vishnu Deo Sai said that hosting more professional golf tournaments could attract visitors and create opportunities linked to tourism, hospitality and local businesses in Nava Raipur.
“Nava Raipur has been planned as a city of opportunity, and sport must be part of that opportunity,” Sai said.
He also said the tournament could help promote golf among young people in Chhattisgarh while introducing visitors and players to the state’s cultural heritage, tribal art, natural landscapes and hospitality.
Kapil Dev Highlights International Pathways
Kapil Dev, who is President of DP World PGTI, highlighted golf’s status as an Olympic sport and the opportunities available to young Indian golfers.
“Golf is an Olympic sport, and young Indian players today have a clear international stage to aspire to,” Kapil Dev said.
He said professional tournaments could allow young players to see a pathway from junior-level competition to representing India at events such as the Asian Games and Olympics.
132 Professionals Compete for ₹1 Crore Purse
The field includes leading Indian professionals such as:
- Veer Ahlawat
- Manu Gandas
- Akshay Sharma
- Honey Baisoya
- Khalin Joshi
- Rashid Khan
- Om Prakash Chouhan
International participants include golfers from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Uganda, the United States, Japan, Ireland, Canada and the Czech Republic.
Veer Ahlawat is also among the Indian golfers set to represent the country at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, along with Yuvraj Sandhu and Saptak Talwar.
Second PGTI Event in Nava Raipur in 2026
The Nava Raipur Open is the second DP World PGTI professional tournament to be held in Nava Raipur in 2026. The PGTI’s tournament listing confirms that the event is being played at Fairway Golf & Lake Resort from September 15 to 18 with a ₹1 crore prize purse.
A previous professional event, the SECL Chhattisgarh Open, was also held at the venue earlier this year.
PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl said:
“Nava Raipur has the infrastructure, hospitality and potential to emerge as a leading golfing destination.”
Fairway Golf & Lake Resort
The tournament is being hosted at the Fairway Golf & Lake Resort in Nava Raipur.
The course is an 18-hole, par-69 course situated beside Jhanjh Lake. It was designed by Australian firm Pacific Coast Design and has a playing length of approximately 6,000 yards.
The venue is hosting the DP World PGTI event as part of Nava Raipur’s professional golf calendar in 2026.
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