Thidapa to defend her title at the Hero Women’s Indian Open ‘14

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• LET Stars Gwladys Nocera and Carlota Ciganda confirm participation
• The US $ 3,00,000 event to be played at the Delhi Golf Club from December 4-6

New Delhi, November 4, 2014: The Hero Women’s Indian Open for 2014 was announced today to tee off at the picturesque Delhi Golf Club from the 4^th to 6^th December 2014. The 8^th edition will see likes of defending champion Thidapa Suwannapura (defending champion), Gwladys Nocera (2008 OOM Winner + 12 career LET victories) and Carlota Ciganda (2012 OOM Winner + Player of the Year + Rookie of the Year) competing against each other.

The highly competitive and star studded field will also include Hero Motocorp sponsored Sharmila Nicollet; the youngest Indian to retain her LET card and the Hero Order of Merit 2014 Winner Vani Kapoor, who finished third in Mineks & Regnum Ladies Classic on the LET’s Access Series recently.

The US$ 300,000 event – tri-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET), the Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) and Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI) will also see top Indian golfers competing against the likes of Kylie Walker (winner – Deloitte Ladies Open 2014 & Ladies German open 2014), Florentyna Parker (winner- Ladies Italian Open 2014), Julie Greciet (winner Sberbank Golf Masters 2014) and Connie Chen (winner – Tenerife Open de Espana 2014).

Mr. Pawan Munjal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Hero MotoCorp Ltd, said “Women’s golf has come a long way in the country and I am privileged to have witnessed the contribution of the Hero Women’s Indian Open in the same. The tournament has established itself as an important part of the Ladies European Tour and Ladies Asian Golf Tour. The strength of the field has improved over the years and presence of top players speaks of the growing importance of the tournament in the international calendar. We are very happy to be a part of a tournament that offers an opportunity for talented Indian golfers to showcase and test their skills against the best in the world. We are hopeful that this tournament will play a vital role in taking women’s golf to the next level in India.”

Gwladys Nocera has been in fine form this season. She is at currently at the 4^th spot in the ISPS Handa Order of Merit with a total earnings of € 182,418.40 in 16 outings this season. Other attractions at this year’s Hero Women’s Indian Open will be the presence of Carlota Ciganda of Spain and Suh Bo-Mi of Korea.

Mrs. Kavita Singh, President of the WGAI, said “With the support of our title sponsor, Hero MotoCorp Ltd, we are at the threshold of staging another edition of the Hero Women’s Indian Open. The event has grown consistently over the last few years, and is set to again welcome some of the best players from the LET and LAGT. Indian players have grown in confidence from competing with the international players, and are beginning to take the leap to the next level. On behalf of the Women’s Golf Association of India, I would like to express our sincere thanks to Hero MotoCorp, the Ladies European Tour and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour for their continued support of the event.”

Ivan Khodabaksh, CEO of the Ladies European Tour, added: “The Ladies European Tour is thrilled to be returning to Delhi Golf Club for the Hero Women’s Indian Open, which last year hosted a first class golf event. As well as being a fabulous showcase of world class golf and entertainment, the tournament plays a significant role in the development of the national game and helps to further promote, foster and develop golf globally. I would like to thank Hero Motocorp Ltd and the Women’s Golf Association of India for their commitment and contribution to this highly successful event.”

Sharing best wishes for the Hero Womens Indian Open 2014, the LAGT President, Mr. Koichi Kato said, “We respect Hero Motocorp for their enthusiastic contribution towards women’s golf not only in India but also in the world. Since LAGT was invited to India first time in 2007, several new Asian stars have been born in the world of golf after their victory in India – Taiwan’s Tseng Ya Ni in 2007, Thai’s Pornanong Phatlum in 2008, 2009, 2012 and Thai’s Thidapa Suwannapura last year. LAGT hopes that another new Asian heroine may come out this year again.”