DUBAI
India will field a promising line-up at the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), scheduled from October 23 to 26 in Dubai, with reigning All India Amateur champion Anshul Mishra and rising star Rakshit Dahiya spearheading the campaign. Joining them will be Raghav Gulati and Ranveer Mitroo, both carrying significant international exposure.
The AAC, founded in 2009 by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, The R&A, and the Masters Tournament, is considered the premier stage for amateur golfers across the region. The stakes are high: the champion will earn a coveted invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament and an exemption into The 154th Open. The runner-up gains entry into The Open Qualifying Series, while the top three receive spots in the 131st Amateur Championship.
Among the Indian contingent, Dahiya brings prior AAC experience, having played in Japan last year and finishing a creditable tied-37th. His recent season has been impressive, with victories at the Delhi Golf Club Juniors, Delhi NCR Cup, and Samarvir Sahi Amateurs, along with a top-10 finish against professionals at the Coal India Open. Mishra, winner of the prestigious All India Amateur in 2024, has posted strong results in the US, Dubai, and Singapore, including a runner-up finish at the FCG Callaway event.
Gulati, based in Dubai, carries local advantage with recent wins at the FJT Middle East and Tommy Fleetwood Pathway event, while Mitroo boasts top-10 finishes across Hong Kong, Singapore, and the US junior circuit. This year’s AAC will host 120 players from 41 member nations, with top names like Harry Takis (Australia) and Ziqin Zhou (China) set to compete.
