4th Ghazala Ansari Ladies Open Golf Championship commences

 4th Ghazala Ansari Ladies Open Golf Championship commences

The much-anticipated 4th Ghazala Ansari Julke Challenge Cup Ladies Open Championship is set to commence this Friday at the prestigious Gymkhana Golf Club. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first-ever open championship in the history of the Ghazala Ansari Julke Challenge Cup, transitioning from an amateur-only competition in its previous three editions to a tournament now welcoming professional lady golfers.

In a press conference held at Gymkhana Golf Club, key figures of the tournament gathered to discuss this landmark event. Dr. Asma Afzal Shami, who originally conceived the idea of dedicating championships to the forgotten icons of yesteryear, highlighted that this championship is inspiring the young golfers to tread the same path as Ghazala Ansari. She was joined by Convenor Golf Club, Mr Shaukat Jave, Bela Azam, the tournament director, Mamoona Azam, the championship coordinator, and Munazza Shaheen, the Chief Referee.

The convener emphasized that Gymkhana Golf Club holds a special place in the legacy of Ghazala Ansari, who belongs to this club, making it the ideal venue to host the championship for the fourth consecutive time. He ensured the club’s unwavering commitment to fostering women's golf, noting that participation has steadily increased with each edition. He lauded the relentless efforts of Dr. Asma Shami and her dedicated team for luring women into golf and increasing not only the number, but also the quality of the sport.

Dr. Shami commended the club’s unwavering support and commitment to advancing women's golf. She praised PGF for introducing the pro category, emphasizing how it will propel the development of ladies' golf in Pakistan. This initiative allows elite amateurs to transition into the professional circuit, thereby creating opportunities for emerging players to excel in amateur events.

“This is a historic moment as we welcome professional lady golfers into this championship. The participation of players from Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Goth Machi, Peshawar, Wah Cantt, Risalpur, and Multan is a great honor, and we are thrilled to host them at Gymkhana,” she remarked.

Munazza Shaheen, the chief referee explained that there are now 7 categories in the championship including Professionals, WAGR Open category, Category B and C for amateur golfers with handicap 13 to 24 and 25 to 36. Then we have Senior lady golfers and juniors in two categories of ages 11 to 14 and below 10.

80 players have registered, among them 5 are professionals. 8 players in WAGR, making it an unforgettable number of golfers competing from this platform.

Bela Azam expressed her unwavering commitment to the championship, highlighting the crucial role of Julke as the title sponsor. She emphasized that Julke's sponsorship has been instrumental in elevating the status of the event, enabling it to expand through continued sponsorship and strategic development.

As the championship gears up for an exciting weekend of competition, the event stands as a testament to the growing presence and recognition of female golfers in Pakistan. The organizers remain hopeful that this championship will pave the way for more professional opportunities and international exposure for women in the sport.