In its bid to put a "wrong" right, the Indian Golf Union (IGU) announced on Tuesday that it would hold a second round of trials for the "jinxed" IMG-Reliance Scholarships India.
"A second round of selections will be held in about a week or 10 days. Players on the (IGU) merit list who were not part of the first trials are in the process of being invited. This way we will ensure fairness in the procedure," said IGU president, Ashit Luthra.
As reported by HT, the programme ran into rough weather as IMG and Reliance had initially routed it through the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). Under it, 52 children were invited for trials in July at the DLF Golf & Country Club and 13 were selected.
The chosen bunch was to head to the David Leadbetter Academy in Bradenton, Florida, in early August for another round of trials.
Finally, four were to be selected and offered fully paid scholarships for a year, which were open for renewal.
As the governing body of golf, the IGU termed the scholarship scheme a breach of amateur status rules, as it was not routed through it.
{{/usCountry}}As the governing body of golf, the IGU termed the scholarship scheme a breach of amateur status rules, as it was not routed through it.
{{/usCountry}}Fearing for the children's welfare, the PGTI beat a retreat and offered the programme to IGU.
The latest exercise might have asserted IGU's supremacy and allowed the children who missed the bus the first time to have a shot at glory, but a piquant situation has arisen for the 13.
They have also been invited for the current trials and it is a distinct possibility that some of them could miss the flight to the United States and possible stardom.
On the occasion, the seven-member India squad for the Asian Games was also formally announced.
The men's team consists of Rashid Khan, Rahul Bajaj, Abhinav Lohan and Abhijit Chadha with Ashbeer Saini being a reserve. The women's team has Shreya Ghei, Vani Kapoor and Gurbani Singh. Shradhanjali Singh will fill in as a reserve.