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Indo-China golf ties built in Nepal
Sandwiched between India and China, the Himalayan Nation of Nepal has suddenly become the new ground for a stronger Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai diplomacy, reports Anirban Roy.
Sandwiched between India and China, the Himalayan Nation of Nepal has suddenly become the new ground for a stronger Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai diplomacy.
Even though Beijing has been trying to make its presence felt in Nepal, to shrink New Delhi’s political influence, the Chinese ambassador Zheng Xianglin on Sunday exhibited a new example of stronger diplomacy with India.
Zheng, an ace golfer on Sunday chose to represent the Indian team at an Indo-Nepal golf tournament at the Le Meridian Golf Resort in Gokorna at the outskirts of Kathmandu city.
“It was great to see the Chinese ambassador representing the Indian team at the tournament,” Vikram Singh, general manager of Le Meridian Golf Resort told Hindustan Times after the tournament.
Dressed in the navy-blue T-shirt and cap, the Indian team’s uniform, Zheng was one of the first golfers to complete the 18-hole amateur tournament. His contribution had a big role in India’s victory. The Indo-Nepal golf tournament was for the prestigious Maharaja of Baroda trophy.
“Golf can be a medium to build a stronger diplomatic relationship between India and China,” Shekhar Kharel, a journalist said. It was for the first time any Chinese diplomat represented the Indian team at any international golf tournament in Nepal. Few Indian diplomats also took part in the competition.
Like India, the Chinese government has also been taking up several development projects in Nepal, and has been helping develop infrastructure in different sectors.
Kharel said Nepal would be the biggest beneficiary of stronger Sino-Indian relationships in future. “We can definitely be the development bridge between the two Asian giants,” he maintained.
