New Delhi, Nov 22: The Golf Foundation (TGF) announced the 3rd edition of its nationwide EWS (Economically Weaker Section) Talent Hunt 2025–26, India’s most ambitious grassroots golf-identification initiative that especially targets children belonging to families whose income is less than Rs 8 lakh per annum and irrespective of the sport they already play or intend to play.
Announcing the Talent Hunt programme, Amit Luthra, Founder-President of TGF, Asian Games Gold Medallist and Arjuna Awardee, said: “The National Talent Hunt is where many champions begin their journey. With the support of our partners, we can ensure that no child with talent — whether from golf or any other sport — is denied the chance to excel.”
This year’s edition is being headed by leading golf coach and President of the PGA of India, Romit Bose, who brings decades of coaching expertise and a proven track record of producing multiple professional tournament winners, Amateur National Champions, and Junior European and World Champions.
Built on the philosophy that talent is everywhere, opportunity is not, TGF has spent over 25 years discovering and shaping champions from underprivileged backgrounds. Alumni such as Ashok Kumar, Rashid Khan, Shubham Jaglan, Honey Baisoya, Chikkarangappa, and Hitaashi Bakshi, among others, have risen from modest beginnings to compete on global tours including the Indian Tour, Asian Development Tour, Asian Tour, European Tour, PGA Tour of Americas, Women’s Indian Tour, Women’s Asian Golf Tour and Ladies European Tour. TGF’s impact has been recognised with the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar for sports promotion conferred by the Hon’ble President of India.
This year, TGF is conducting on-range Talent Identification Camps at golf facilities across India. Flyers and invitations have been shared with EWS children, government and low-income schools, NGOs, and clubs within TGF’s network, inviting them to a dedicated assessment day. Academies from various sports such as cricket, hockey, tennis, and football will also be approached.
Multiple teams of trained scouts will travel across states conducting in-school talent identification camps. Using portable hitting mats, nets, putting mats, and balls, scouts will conduct a series of athletic and golf-specific tests such as ball throws, 40-metre sprints, static jumps, and movement assessments. The programme is open to children from any sport, recognising that athletic qualities gained in football, cricket, athletics, hockey, or kabaddi often translate exceptionally well into golf.
“This year’s Talent Hunt is designed to cast the widest and deepest net we’ve ever attempted. India is full of natural athletes who just need a gateway into golf — and we intend to find them. State of the art technologies like Trackman are being used to gauge the performances, ruling out any favouritism,” said Romit Bose.
Across range and school programmes, TGF aims to screen 1,500–1,800 children. Shortlisted candidates will join twice-a-week training sessions at regional golf facilities until the first week of January 2026, before the final selection round. The 30 plus shortlisted finalists will enter TGF’s long-term pathway where ₹ 3.5 lakhs to ₹ 5 lakhs allocated per kid per annum from an overall yearly budget of approximately ₹ 2 crores in order to receive structured coaching, equipment, tournament exposure, mentoring, and financial support, setting them on the road to becoming competitive golfers.
