Renowned clubmaker Sundeep Verma will be making his third Olympic appearance as a coach, accompanying leading Indian professional Gaganjeet Bhullar during Paris 2024. Bhullar, an 11-time Asian Tour champion making his Olympic debut, is part of a four-member golf team alongside Shubhankar Sharma, Aditi Ashok, and Diksha Dagar. Indian pro Ashbeer Saini will serve as Bhullar’s caddie. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has cleared a 257-member Indian contingent, which includes 117 athletes and 140 support staff and coaches.
With over 25 years of experience in the golf industry, Verma is the first Class ‘A’ certified golf coach-cum-clubmaker and has worked with top golfers like Jeev Milkha Singh, Anirban Lahiri, S.S.P. Chawrasia, Jyoti Randhawa, Himmat Singh Rai, Shiv Kapur, Shubhankar Sharma, and Siddikur Rahman. He previously accompanied Chawrasia to the Rio 2016 Olympics and Diksha to the Tokyo 2020 Games, playing a crucial role in their memorable performances. The men’s individual competition at Paris 2024 will be held from August 1 to 4 at Le Golf National, which hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup.
“It was natural to choose Sundeep as my coach. He has guided me since my early professional days, advising me on my golf swing and customizing clubs to fit my BMI and posture. He has been to the event venue twice, and his insights will be invaluable. He has also supported SSP and Diksha in previous Olympics and understands the game’s nuances and handling pressure on such a big stage. With him by my side, I am confident of delivering a remarkable performance in my Olympic debut,” Bhullar said.
Interestingly, Bhullar’s request for Sundeep Verma to accompany him to Paris was initially deferred by the Indian Golf Union (IGU) and the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), which holds the authority to approve or reject a Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athlete’s proposal.
Verma, who coached the Indian amateur golf team at the 2022 Eisenhower Trophy at Le Golf National, has also visited the venue for the 2018 Open de France with Chawrasia, a four-time European Tour winner.
“I am delighted to accompany Bhullar to Paris. I look forward to sharing the experiences from Rio and Tokyo with him. Bhullar is the most accomplished golfer of his generation, being the first Indian to win a European Challenge Tour event in 2011 and holding the record for the most Asian Tour titles by an Indian pro. If not for the demotion of the Asian Tour in the Official World Golf Rankings due to its association with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf Tour, Bhullar would easily be within the top-100 rankings. He has the right temperament and aggressive mindset essential for performing well in major events like the Olympics. We aim to give our best shot and return with a medal from Paris,” Sundeep Verma said.
Bhullar’s expenses for airfare, boarding, lodging, and registration fees for the International Series Morocco were covered under the TOP Scheme. TOPS also approved his week-long training at Le Golf National, the Olympic venue. The Kapurthala-born professional will head to Paris with Sundeep Verma on July 28.
