Keekli Reporter, 8th May, 2014, Chandigarh
An enthusiastic and passionate golfer, starting at a tender age of four, Aadil Bedi, now 13 years old was awarded the Best Achievement Sports Award in Golf by the Governor of Punjab, Shiv Raj Patil on 8th May at Hotel Mount View Chandigarh, which was sponsored by the Bhaskar Group. Aadil was ecstatic on receiving the awards. He said, “I have been playing golf since last nine years. I think whatever I have achieved so far it is just a journey I have to travel to achieve the Grand Slam in Golf. I wish I am able to play all the big tournaments until I am in my twenties and wish to win the Grand Slam for India. All these achievements are part of a journey toward my final goal. This is the reason I am very particular about my diet, fitness and regimental structured practice sessions with experts only”.
A rare feat at such a young age, his proud parents Harinder Bedi and Hargunjit Kaur felt elated and said, “Aadil is our only son and we both are Officers in Government of Punjab. I generally look after his golf, diet, fitness and tournament affairs where as my wife looks after his studies and school affairs. We were doing fitness training in the ground, in the evening, when I received a call from the Bhaskar office. When we came to know that Aadil was selected for the State Award, we started dancing instantaneously totally unaware of our surroundings. We started laughing as there was no body on the ground at that time”. He further added, Aadil’s professional achievements include over 150 Gold Medals and trophies in many national as well as international tournaments. Apart from playing all over India, he has played in Australia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Dubai, Canada, Thailand, England and USA.
Born in 2001, Aadil started practicing and learning the initial strokes of golf at CGA Golf Range, Chandigarh, when he was just four years old. Seeing him practice sincerely and nurturing his talent, his parents encouraged him to pursue his sport and by five he had moved to playing golf at the Panchkula Golf Course. Soon he started participating in IGU (Indian Golf Union) National Golf circuit at the age of six. Climbing up the ladder he finished 9th in the IGU merit list in 2008, 6th in 2009, 2nd in 2010 and became the All India Number One player in the year 2011 in D category (10 years and under); feats which he repeated in 2013 in the C category (11-12 years).
Continuing to excel in golf, Aadil finished as Number One in the IGU merit list of 2011 in D category by winning the Northern, Western and Eastern India Junior Golf tournament. At the same time he finished as the 1st runner up in Delhi Junior and SEPTA Chandigarh Juniors. Other accolades won in 2011 were the CGA State Championship 2011, he won the 1st Interschool Albatross Championship at ITC Classic Golf Course in August 2011; Won the Albatross International at ITC Classic Golf Course; and finished as 2nd runner up in the team event at Thailand in True Vision Golf Championship.
In the year 2012, he finished 4th in the IGU merit list of 2012 by winning at the Rambagh Golf Course Jaipur; 1st runner up at the SEPTA Chandimandar Chandigarh, Golden Greens Gurgaon, MEPTA Lucknow; Won the 2nd Interschool Albatross Championship at ITC Classic Golf Course in August 2012; and finally finished in top 10 in European Championship 2012 at Scotland, UK.
The year 2013 was no different as his list of achievements was equally impressive as he presently holds the Number One slot in the All India IGU merit list 2013 by winning the All India Final at Coimbatore and Bombay in November and December, 2013. He also won the league matches at Kharga Golf Course, Ambala; Army Golf Course New Delhi; Golden Greens Gurgaon; and finished as 1st runner up at the Golden Green Gurgaon and SEPTA Chandimandar Golf Course, Chandigarh. His international feats include the 6th position he got at the World Junior Master Golf Championship at Las Vegas, USA in July 2013 and finished in top 20 in the US Kids World Cup Championship at Pinehurst, USA in August 2013. Aadil went on to win the 3rd Interschool Albatross Championship at ITC Classic Golf Course in August 2013; he also finished 1st runner up at Chandigarh Golf Club in Northern India Junior Golf Championship in B Category (13-15 year old) and presently holds the number 8 position in the IGU country merit list. He also won the Albatross International at JayPee Greens, Greater Noida in November, 2013.
A student of class 8, Vivek High School, Sector 38, Chandigarh, Aadil is especially coached by Jesse Grewal, Director CGA Golf Academy, Chandigarh, who holds Aadil in high esteem especially because of his accomplishments at such a young age. His psychological coaches are Irina Singh and Gursimran Singh Sethi; fitness coaches are Sagar Diwan at CGA Golf Range and former Director Sports Dr. Gurmeet Singh, Punjab University Chandigarh, who give special attention to his physical training as well as emotional strength.
His mentors are the ever so famous golfers Harmeet Singh Kahlon and Jeev Milkha Singh who are always there to guide his as well as share professional inputs and his idol is the ace golfer Tiger Woods. Aadil nurtures the dreams of being a World Class Golf Professional. He is naturally blessed with a lean athletic body and is quite tall for his age. He is very passionate about golf, as his dedication towards the game, consistent hard work and discipline; while at the same time following a tight schedule of practice, fitness and diet have ensured his success in the game. He aspires to compete at the highest level of the competition and is willing to put in the hours required to make a champion out of an ordinary player. The experience he has gained in the last eight years has made him mentally so strong that he looks forward to competitions where he can better his previous scores.
The bundle of energy, that is, Aadil, when channelized properly, will be a player to watch in the years to come !!!
Experts from an Interview with Harinder Bedi
Keekli: At a young age of 4, how were you able to identify your son’s interest in Golf? Does anyone else plays Golf in your family?
Harinder Bedi: I was an addicted golfer when Aadil was only three years old and I used to play in Civil Service Golf Tournaments or other invitational tournaments. Aadil used to accompany me in most of the tournaments and used to walk with me. He used to enjoy my goodies bag or the prizes I won. I also generally took him along for my golf practice in the evenings, but his original interests was only coke and chips at the club house after I finished my practice. One day at the age of four he insisted for a Golf Club of his size. We ordered one from a local professional shop, which took almost two months to deliver. Since the time he laid hands on the Club, he has never looked back.
Keekli: How is his academic performance? How is he able to maintain a balance between his studies and his strenuous regime of exercise and practicing Golf?
Bedi: He is a brilliant student and knows how to strike balance between his studies and golf. My wife has a strict a law at home. “No school work, no golf”. Aadil always insists me to take him for golf practice but my wife always ensures that he finishes his homework and then goes for practice, which he does regularly. He used to take a study book along on the tournaments while travelling and gets in touch with mom for homework on e-mail or sometimes over the telephone.
Keekli: What kind of financial support have you provided him, since this is an expensive sport. The guidance of all the trainers and coaches on hand you have given him?
Bedi: It is a very expensive game to practice and play tournaments across the globe. Since both of us are working parents, We spend our whole savings and almost 90 per cent of our income on Aadil’s golf. Golf equipment, training expenses of coaches, tours and travel expenses are increasing day by day. We do not know how we will continue to support our child dreams but we are committed to do so. I am planning to leave my job and join my parents business very soon to increase the income.
Keekli: Have you received any sponsors for his coaching?
Bedi: As of today we do not have any support from any sponsorships or endorsements. We are managing all expenses from our savings and salary only. To cut down the expenses we generally stay in government rest houses across the country, as we cannot afford hotel expenses.