Swing for good
MANILA (Jan. 16, 2019) — Golf stars in India teed off to a new year in 2019 by lending a hand to the cause of decent, affordable housing. Professional golfers and Padma Shri award winner Jeev Milkha Singh, Asian Tour champions Shiv Kapur and Chiragh Kumar, and CG Open champion Kunal Bhasin participated in the first-ever charity golf tournament hosted by Habitat for Humanity India.
Held at the Willingdon Sports Club in Mumbai, the tournament attracted 78 golf enthusiasts and India’s business leaders across the city. They contributed funds and raised awareness of Habitat India’s work in securing land and building homes for farmers’ widows in Maharasthra state.
“I am really excited to play at the Habitat for Humanity India Charity Golf Tournament. They are the Sustainable Development Partner of the Asian Tour — the official regional sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia,” says Jeev Milkha Singh.
“Habitat for Humanity has done a lot for the people of India who lack decent shelter and sanitation. I urge all the golf lovers to come forward and support Habitat for Humanity and help them build homes for underprivileged people,” he adds, making his call in a 36-second video.
Two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Singh is not new to supporting the cause of affordable housing. In August 2018’s TAKE Solutions Masters, Singh took part in a pro-am golf tournament organized by Habitat India, playing alongside fellow Asian Tour golfers and Habitat ambassadors Casey O’Toole and Danny Masrin to raise funds and awareness of the needs of farmers’ widows in Maharashtra.
Like Singh, Kapur and Kumar lent their support nearly a year ago through Habitat’s partnership with the Asian Tour. “I feel very honored to be able to support Habitat for Humanity India once again,” says Asian Tour champion Kapur who motivated supporters in a brief video. “Earlier this year my wife Maya and I volunteered with them to build a home in Delhi and now I get an opportunity make a difference through this charity golf tournament.”
Along with O’Toole and other Asian Tour golfers and staff, Kapur and his wife had helped build a home in New Delhi in March 2018. Their generosity enabled farmers’ widows such as Munna and their families to gain stability through shelter.
“I feel lucky that Habitat for Humanity is helping me,” says Munna. Referring to the golfers who worked on her home, she adds: “They’ve travelled far to help a widow like me. I want my house to be filled with laughter and happiness.”