DHAKA: Bangladesh's star golfer Siddikur Rahman will lead the team of famous Indian cricketer Kapil Dev in the Louis Philippe Cup golf tournament, to be held in Bangalore from June 11 to 13.

The 30-year-old Bangladesh golfer, who won the 2013 Hero Indian Open, will captain the Dev-Ellora Pune team in the seven-team tournament, which has a Rs1.2 crore prize money.

The tournament will be held at Bangalore's Karnataka Golf Course and will be played in stroke-play format, unlike the previous editions which was knock-out affairs, in consideration of the Rio Olympics next year.

However, the price will be divided among 21 players instead of 50-60 players like any other Asian event. There will be opportunities for individual earnings based on the performance.

When asked about the interests and involvement in Golf, Kapil  Dev said: "I wish cricket players should also take interest in other sports. I have seen some cricket aces including Sachin (Tendulkar), (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, (Virender) Sehwag and (Rahul) Dravid playing golf. It feels good when these young players take interest in other sports as well."

A total seven of teams including Take Chennai, DLF Gurgao, Jaypee Green Greater Noida, Dev-Ellora Pune, Laqshya Mumbai, the new entrant Zion Hills Bengaluru will compete with the last year's champions Navratna Ahmedabad in the tournament.

BDST: 1418 HRS, May 29, 2015
HB/RS