CM Shares Glimpse of Courtesy Call; Discusses Growth of Golf and Sports Infrastructure in UP
Lucknow: Legendary cricketer and 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, who currently serves as the President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the latter’s official residence in Lucknow.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), CM Yogi shared a photograph of the meeting and wrote: “Renowned cricketer and captain of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team, Kapil Dev paid a courtesy visit to the official residence in Lucknow today.”
Kapil Dev, one of India’s most celebrated sports personalities, had a decorated international cricket career spanning from 1978 to 1994. Widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, he played 131 Tests, scoring 12,867 runs and taking 434 wickets. In ODIs, he represented India in 225 matches, amassing 6,945 runs and bagging 253 wickets. His most iconic achievement came in 1983, when he led India to its first-ever Cricket World Cup title, defeating the West Indies in a historic final at Lord’s.
After retirement, Kapil Dev remained active in the world of sports, taking on roles as a coach, commentator, and even Chancellor of the Sports University of Haryana in 2019. He served as India’s national coach for a brief stint between October 1999 and August 2000.
In June 2024, Kapil Dev was unanimously elected as President of the PGTI, succeeding Srinivasan H R. Prior to his appointment, he served as Vice President and Governing Body Member of PGTI from 2021 to 2023, actively contributing to the promotion and expansion of professional golf in India.
One of his notable contributions was the launch of the Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational—a high-profile golf tournament held at the DLF Golf and Country Club, which has become a signature event on the Indian golfing calendar.
Apart from administrative roles, Kapil Dev is also known for his personal passion for golf. Over the years, he has participated in several elite amateur golf tournaments around the world, including the prestigious Dunhill Links Championship, where he shared the fairways with international celebrities and athletes.
His meeting with CM Yogi Adityanath is seen as a step toward fostering greater cooperation between sports leaders and state governments. It also highlights Uttar Pradesh’s growing interest in developing sports infrastructure, including golf, to provide a platform for emerging talent and enhance tourism and lifestyle offerings in the state.
