Indian golfer Rashid Khan threatens to pull out of 2020 Olympics

Indian golfer Rashid Khan has threatened to quit the sport if he is not allowed to practice at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), thus giving away his Olympic dream. The two-time Asian champion, along with seven professional and two amateur golfers were taken to the Tughlaq Road Police Station after they lodged a complaint against the DGC of not allowing them to use the golf course in spite of them paying the fee. The conflict between both the parties dates back a long time ago when the current no. 1 on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) list was denied to use the DGC premises for practice even when the Supreme Court allows the golfer to practice at the 18-hole course.

“I will quit if this issue is not sorted out. They are ready to use it for entertainment purpose but not for sports. From IAS officers to other bureaucrats, they allow everyone to use the course but golfers like us,” said Rashid Khan to the PTI. He added by saying, “I was also carrying a Supreme Court ruling that states that we are allowed to practice there but still we were not allowed, so it’s flouting of the top court ruling.” In January, Rashid accused the DGC of discrimination, which according to him is ruining the careers of golfers who come from a humble background. On Saturday, Rashid tweeted on his official handle, “Arrested for calling the police to help us but we only got arrested at 3 pm 25/05/2019 this what happens when you try to take help from our law it goes against you only # Olympic will be dream for me now.” Rashid has been a part of the Indian team which won the silver medal in the 2010 Asian Games. It will be a huge disappointment if he pulls out of the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.