The journey from boy to man is often defined by courage, and Gaganjeet Bhullar is a perfect example. His is a tale of grime, guts and glory: he chose to tread the tricky turf when most of his compatriots preferred a safer passage.
It was this confidence that catapulted him to stardom, which still eludes most of the friends who learnt the basics of the game with him on the greens of Kapurthala and Chandigarh. The 23-year-old has often shown a burning desire to dominate, and it is his hunger to succeed that makes him stand out from his peers.
The Kapurthala golfer, who already has 12 titles since turning professional in 2006, is not afraid of aiming high, as he believes only then can one achieve the desired success. Enjoying an astonishing season so far, with three PGTI victories and a win on the European Challenge Tour, Gaganjeet is relishing the fame and fortune.
“I am enjoying the attention. This is what all of us sportspersons work for. When I used to see my seniors like Jeev, Jyoti and Atwal hogging the limelight, I was always in awe of their status. I nurtured that dream myself and thankfully have reached that position so early in my career. I hope I can carry on my success and make a name for myself on the European and PGA Tours. I am learning slowly and steadily. I’ll be a better golfer and competitor with experience,” says the golfer, who started playing the game with his father, HS Bhullar, a sports officer with Indian Railways.
Cricket, tennis and then golf
But golf is not his only love. Like many Indians, Gaganjeet was drawn to cricket in his early days, and he is still passionate about tennis. “Like other kids, I loved cricket when I was young. In a cricket-crazy country like ours, everyone gets glued to cricket! But when my dad introduced me to golf, I was so gripped by it that no other sport has ever appealed to me as much. Tennis is my passion, but I hardly get time to play,” says the champion, who is the youngest Indian player to win on the Asian Tour and the PGTI, and to play in a Major championship.
Working on the mind
Gaganjeet has also been working on stress management, which has helped him so far. He has taken up yoga and meditation to handle the stress and pressure that come with the game. He also feels physical fitness is a must and has been working on that aspect as well.
“I go to the gym four or five times a week. I feel I have become stronger mentally too. There were many tournaments last season that I came close to winning but couldn’t finish off. That is changing now, all because of yoga and my psychologist,” said Bhullar, who has been counselled by psychologist Pradeep Aggarwal.
Proud of his roots
Bhullar, who has overshadowed some of the biggest names in Indian golf, is a fitting example of a small-town boy making it big on the big stage. “I am very proud of my small-town origins. Who could have thought a few years ago that somebody from Kapurthala would hog the limelight on the golf circuit and go on to play at this level? In fact, many sports, including cricket, are full of examples of small-town boys making a name for themselves internationally. I feel their upbringing, their humble background and the discipline and culture instilled in them make them better fighters,” says Bhullar, who has become one of the torchbearers of Indian golf after Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa.
His mother, too, is proud of her son for putting Kapurthala in the limelight as far as golf is concerned. “I feel proud of my son. I feel on top of the world to see my son successful and well known internationally. I’m glad that he has achieved so much at a very young age,” said Sarabjeet Kaur, Gaganjeet’s mother, who plays golf herself and usually accompanies her son on tour.
An ardent fan of Tiger Woods, Bhullar draws a lot of inspiration from the Milkha family back home. “Jeev is the torchbearer of Indian golf. We young golfers look to him for advice and inspiration. But ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh (Jeev’s father) is a source of inspiration for all of us. His struggle and his achievements are part of folklore, and we all derive strength from sportspersons like him,” says the youngster, who is often referred to as the ‘Tiger of Kapurthala’.
By Akshi Aggarwal
Indian Sports News
