November 17: Shiv Kapur of India hopes to sweeten his year when he competes at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open from November 30 to December 3.
The 2017 season has been one of Kapur’s finest years on the Asian Tour and he is determined to continue his winning form at the €1million (approximately US$1.07 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Sunshine Tour.
He waited 11 years to win his second Asian Tour title at the Yeangder Heritage in Chinese Taipei in April. He tasted victory again on home soil when he triumphed at the Panasonic Open India two weeks ago to become the only player to win twice on the Asian Tour in 2017.
Kapur won his first Asian Tour title in 2005 in his first year on the region’s premier Tour and was subsequently voted as the Rookie of the Year. His return to the winner’s circle has fuelled his desire to shoot for more glory at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
“It’s amazing to have two wins this year and I’ve got to thank a lot of people for believing in me and supporting me. The form is good and the confidence is high, so there’s no reason why I cannot win again,” said Kapur.
He will be among an elite cast of Asian Tour champions which includes 20-year-old Micah Lauren Shin of the United States, who won in the Philippines last week, Gavin Green of Malaysia, the current Order of Merit leader and Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand.
Gaganjeet Bhullar of India, an eight-time Asian Tour winner, S.S.P. Chawrasia, Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand and Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, who finished second in the event last year, will also feature in the tournament.
Kapur’s solid season has been a huge turnaround for him after going through a tough year in 2016 where he lost his European Tour card and had to go through a liver surgery which kept him out of the game for a few months.
He bounced back in sensational style and is ready to end the Asian Tour season on a high note.
“I really struggled last year. I came back from a liver surgery in September and was lying on a hospital bed. It was frustrating because you couldn’t play. Now I’ve come back and won twice which is satisfying,” said Kapur, who also welcomed a new born baby girl this year.
