Shiv Kapur Wants India To Follow China’s Golf Blueprint: ‘We Need A Long-Term Plan’

New Delhi, Sep 9: India has made considerable progress in golf infrastructure and participation, but the country needs a long-term development model similar to the one adopted by China if it wants to consistently produce world-class golfers, according to former Asian Games champion Shiv Kapur.

In an exclusive interview with myKhel, Kapur - the three-time Asian Tour winner and two-time Challenge Tour champion - said India currently has the talent, coaching and access to equipment required to develop elite golfers, but a lack of public golf infrastructure outside the major centres continues to limit the size of the talent pool.

He also backed the current Indian team to challenge for medals at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, while outlining how the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) and grassroots programmes could help create a stronger pipeline for the future.

Kapur's assessment comes at a time when Indian golf has produced a number of internationally competitive players but has struggled to establish sustained depth at the highest level.

Shubhankar Sharma, a two-time DP World Tour winner, remains one of India's most established players on the circuit. After losing his card at the end of the 2025 season, Sharma regained full playing rights for 2026 with a tied-second finish at the DP World Tour Qualifying School Final Stage in Tarragona, Spain.

On the Asian Tour, Gaganjeet Bhullar remains India's most successful player, with 11 victories on the circuit. Meanwhile, the next generation is beginning to make its presence felt, with Veer Ahlawat currently fifth in the 2026 DP World PGTI rankings and among the leading Indian professionals on the domestic circuit.

But for Kapur, individual success needs to be converted into a broader and more sustainable development system.

'There Isn't A Lack Of Opportunity'

Kapur, who won the 2002 Asian Games men's individual golf gold, said he has been personally disappointed by India's performances on the international stage over the last five years.

However, he does not believe the problem is a lack of access to the basic tools required to develop a golfer. "I think I have personally been very disappointed to see how we performed on the international stage in the last five years or so," Kapur told myKhel.

At the same time, he pointed out that access to equipment, golf courses, knowledge and coaching has improved considerably since his playing days.

"And there isn't a lack of opportunity," the 44-year-old added.

The bigger issue, in his view, is the availability of public golf infrastructure, particularly outside Delhi.

"I would like to see a lot more places like this. Public golf courses, public driving ranges. Because I think outside of Delhi we really struggle with the public infrastructure of golf," Kapur said.

For a country of India's size, increasing access at the grassroots level could dramatically expand the pool from which elite golfers emerge.

China Provides The Blueprint

Kapur's argument is based on what he sees as the transformation of Chinese golf over the last two decades.

He pointed to China's decision to take a long-term approach to developing the sport, a strategy that he believes is now producing results.

"If I look at the model of China, what they did 25 years ago, was they had a long-term plan. And today that's bearing fruits for them," a two time DP World Tour winner said.

China, he noted, is now producing world-class golfers despite an earlier perception that the country would not become a major force in the sport.

"They are now producing great golfers. So I think it's the same thing with India, it has a bit of a pedigree of golf," he said.

India has certainly shown that it can produce players capable of competing internationally. Sharma has two DP World Tour titles, while Bhullar has built one of the strongest records by an Indian on the Asian Tour. Sharma also won the inaugural Boulders Classic on the domestic circuit in 2026, another sign that established international players remain capable of producing at home.

But Kapur's argument is about what comes next - creating enough infrastructure and pathways to ensure that such players are not exceptions.

'You'll See A Massive Uptick'

Despite his concerns, Kapur remains optimistic about the future. He believes India is going through a period in which a new generation of golfers is emerging and expects the country's international results to improve significantly.

"We have some talent that's coming through, like himself and a lot of the other youngsters. So I think you'll see a massive uptick in the next five years," he said.

For Kapur, the current phase should be viewed as part of the natural cycle of sport, where periods of dominance and transition are followed by new generations breaking through.

He compared it to cricket, pointing to how Australia's dominant team of the early 2000s eventually went through a dip before another generation emerged.

The challenge for Indian golf is ensuring that the next generation has the infrastructure necessary to fulfil its potential.

Club-Level Golf Has Grown, But Professional Golf Needs A Push

Kapur has witnessed a significant transformation in Indian golf since he began playing. He pointed to facilities such as DLF Golf and Country Club, as well as the emergence of public courses capable of hosting international events, as examples of how far the country's infrastructure has come.

"The infrastructure has improved," he said.

Participation has also grown substantially at club level, with golf clubs across the country running leagues and junior programmes.

But Kapur believes the growth in recreational golf has not been matched by a similar progression in the professional game.

"The game has really grown at the club level," he said, while pointing out that the professional game "has not progressed the way it should."

The shortage of international-standard facilities remains one of the biggest challenges.

Kapur noted that the same question comes up every year around the Indian Open - where else in the country can a tournament of that scale be staged?

"Outside of Delhi, they've not been able to find a place that has international facilities to host a big tournament," he said.

IGPL's Role In Taking Golf Beyond Major Cities

Kapur believes the IGPL can play a role in addressing that problem. The league's ambition, he said, should not be restricted to established golfing centres. Instead, it should contribute to the development of new courses and academies in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

"That's part of the plan with IGPL, is to build new golf courses, to build academies, to not just be in the big cities, but to take it to Tier 2, Tier 3 cities," he said.

Kapur believes the benefits of that investment may take years to become visible.

"If we can start the work now, I think it'll bear fruit in the future," he said.

That long-term approach is central to his China comparison. The objective is not simply to produce one successful player, but to create a system capable of continuously producing elite golfers.

Delhi Blue Bulls Also Looking At The Next Generation

Kapur is putting that philosophy into practice with RVR Delhi Blue Bulls GC, where he is combining his role as a player with a broader franchise-building vision.

The squad also includes Gaurav Ghei, Chiragh Kumar and Aryan Roopa Anand, with Kapur describing the combination as a deliberate mix of experience and youth.

Ghei and Kapur bring experience to the team, while Anand, a two-time national champion, represents the younger generation that the franchise hopes can eventually carry the team forward.

The Blue Bulls are also developing a Junior Programme to provide children in Delhi with greater access to golf and professional coaching.

The franchise has linked that development programme to broader social and environmental initiatives, including tree plantation and conservation efforts.

Kapur described the objective as creating a "conveyor belt" of new players who can eventually take over the franchise from the current generation.

Kapur Backs India For Asian Games Medals

With the Asian Games approaching, Kapur believes Indian golf is in an encouraging position. For perhaps the first time, he feels both the men's and women's teams can genuinely be considered medal contenders.

"I think probably for the first time we have both the men's and women's team as title contenders and medal contenders," Kapur said.

He particularly highlighted the progress of women's golf in India, saying the women's team has reached a stage where it can realistically challenge for medals.

The depth on the men's side is also encouraging. "There's probably another eight or 10 guys that potentially could have been on that team," he said, describing that as a positive indication of the strength of Indian golf.

Kapur, however, stressed that having the strongest players does not guarantee a medal.

"It's about peaking at the right time and peaking at that week," he said.

India has been waiting almost 25 years for another Asian Games golf gold, and Kapur hopes the current squad can finally end that drought.

Why International Stars Matter For Indian Golf

Kapur also believes India's development can be accelerated by regularly bringing the world's best golfers to the country.

He pointed to the success of the DP World Tour's event at Delhi Golf Club, where international stars have drawn large crowds and exposed Indian players and fans to elite-level golf.

DGC, he explained, provides a unique challenge because it is a classic golf course that cannot simply be overpowered with distance.

Kapur recalled Rory McIlroy asking him how many drivers he would need to hit during the tournament.

"I said to him, you can put your driver away for the week, you're not going to need it," Kapur recalled.

That distinctive challenge, he believes, makes the tournament an effective showcase for Indian golf. But more importantly, Kapur believes sustained exposure to global stars can change how young Indian golfers view the highest level.

He compared it to the impact of the IPL on young Indian cricketers, who suddenly found themselves playing alongside global stars. "When you actually take the field with them, you realize this is achievable," Kapur said.

The same principle applies to golf, he believes. Young players need opportunities to rub shoulders with the best and understand that the world's elite are not beyond their reach.

'In A Decade, We Shouldn't Be Saying The Same Thing'

Kapur's vision ultimately extends well beyond the immediate Asian Games cycle or the next IGPL season. He wants the infrastructure work being discussed today to create tangible change over the next decade.

"So I think in a decade from now, if you're having this conversation, we shouldn't be saying the same thing, right? That we don't have enough courses, we don't have enough driving," he said.

That is the essence of Kapur's China comparison. India already has golfers capable of winning on the international stage. What it needs, he believes, is the scale, infrastructure and long-term planning to produce many more of them.

And with the Asian Games providing an immediate opportunity for the current generation and the IGPL attempting to build a wider ecosystem, Kapur sees the next five years as potentially decisive for Indian golf.