Associated News Bureau

Omar Abdullah Inaugurates J&K Open 2026, Unveils Vision to Position Jammu & Kashmir as India's Premier Golf Tourism Hub

SRINAGAR, Aug 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated the fifth edition of the J&K Open 2026 DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) by teeing off the prestigious four-day tournament and unveiling the championship trophy at the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) in Srinagar. The championship marks the return of a major professional golf event to Kashmir after a considerable gap and reflects the Jammu & Kashmir Government's renewed efforts to promote the Union Territory as a leading destination for golf tourism. Addressing the gathering after the ceremonial inauguration, the Chief Minister described golf tourism as a key pillar of the government's broader tourism strategy. He highlighted the region's internationally acclaimed golf courses at Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg, along with the Sidra Golf Course in Jammu, adding that plans are under consideration to upgrade another golf facility in the Jammu region. Omar Abdullah said Jammu & Kashmir has already begun attracting golfers from different parts of the country, with visitors increasingly travelling to Srinagar for weekend golfing experiences. He said the growing interest demonstrates the potential of golf tourism to diversify the region's tourism sector and attract high-value visitors. Calling the J&K Open a landmark event, the Chief Minister said the tournament would help restore Kashmir's position on India's professional golfing map. He noted that the event has drawn more than 100 professional golfers, including over 10 international participants, underlining the Union Territory's growing appeal as a destination for competitive sports. The Chief Minister expressed the government's commitment to making the J&K Open an annual fixture on the Professional Golf Tour of India calendar over the next five years. He said efforts would also be made to enhance prize money and expand participation in future editions to strengthen the tournament's standing on the professional circuit. Emphasising the importance of nurturing young talent, Omar Abdullah announced plans to establish a golf academy in Kashmir to identify and train aspiring golfers from an early age. He said such initiatives would provide local players with greater exposure and opportunities to compete at national and international levels. Highlighting the sporting potential of Jammu & Kashmir's youth, the Chief Minister referred to the recent selection of cricketer Auqib Nabi for India's Test squad for the Sri Lanka series and the international achievements of mixed martial arts fighter Owais Yaqoob, saying these accomplishments reflect the region's emerging sporting excellence. He said the government would continue organising major sporting events and promoting grassroots competitions to provide young athletes with opportunities to excel across different disciplines. Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Dr. Ashish Chandra Verma, PGTI CEO Amandeep Johal, Secretary Royal Springs Golf Course Haris Ahmad Handoo, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad and other senior officers were present at the inaugural ceremony.