This year’s Hero Women’s Indian Open has been cancelled due to health and safety concerns arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Originally scheduled for October 1-4, 2020, the 14th edition of India’s national women’s open will now take place at the same venue, the Gary Player Course at DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram, next October. The announcement was made yesterday by the event custodian, the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI), and the sanctioning tour, the Ladies European Tour (LET).
“It was a very difficult decision, but the right one under the present circumstances of the ongoing pandemic,” said Kavita Singh, president of the WGAI. “With no likelihood of any respite in the foreseeable future, safeguarding the health and well being of all players, officials and spectators is of paramount importance.
“I would like to thank Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman & CEO, Hero MotoCorp Ltd. for his continued patronage, and the Ladies European Tour for their guidance and support. Together, with our sponsors, including DLF, Castrol and others, we hope to return next year with another stellar edition of the Hero Women’s Indian Open in October, 2021,” she added.
The Hero Women’s Indian Open had been held each year since 2007 and was co-sanctioned by the LET in 2010. The tournament was staged at DLF Golf & Country Club each year except in 2013 and 2014, when the course was undergoing a re-design. The defending champion is Christine Wolf of Austria, who won the 2019 edition by three shots from Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord.
LET chief executive Alexandra Armas noted: “It is incredibly disappointing to miss a year of the Hero Women’s Indian Open, one of the biggest professional women’s golf events of the Tour. But we look forward to being back next year. This was a tough decision for everyone involved, but we feel it is the most responsible course of action following consultation with all stakeholders.
“I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank WGAI President Mrs Kavita Singh and Dr Pawan Munjal, the driving forces behind the growth of this event and the development of women’s professional golf in India, for their continued commitment. We look forward to continuing to increase the stature of this event in 2021.”
