India Korea Harmony Golf Cup strengthens Dosti between two nations, make them Champions

NEW DELHI: Korean and Indian sides played golf in perfect coherence at the India Korea Harmony Cup (Dosti Championship) hosted by India Republic of Korea Friendship Society (IRKFS), organised by VFS Global, and supported by the Korean Embassy at Delhi Golf Club. South Korean Ambassador Chang Jae-bok, G20 Sherpa and former CEO of NITI Ayog Amitabh Kant, IRKFS Chairman Ambassador (Retd.) Skandh R Tayal, Federation of Korean Associations in India president Park Euy Don, senior MEA officials Mahavir Singhavi, Surinder Bhagat and a score of diplomats, entrepreneurs and golf enthusiasts from both sides also played here.

The event that included ‘India Korea Friendship Night’ organized by the Korean embassy formed part of the ongoing commemoration of 50^th anniversary celebrations of India Korea diplomatic relations. One of the highlights of the evening was that the Ambassador Chang Jae-bok performed the lively ‘#Naatu #Naatu’ dance with the Korean dance crew on the stage.

The chief guest for the event Amitabh Kant who not only played golf in the morning hours on December 1, he also was present during the Gala Dinner ‘India Korea Friendship Night’ organized by the Korean embassy the same evening. After the golf event during the day, Chang Jae-bok gave away prizes to the accomplished winners, rounding off the celebration of the enduring diplomatic ties between the two nations after the 18-hole game.

MIRAE Construction CEO Kyeong Gyuyeong, Asian Airlines manager Song Jung Sub, Elantec MD CHO Chang Hyun, Seela Infratech MD PARK Euy Don, and Zeus Law Managing Partner Sunil Tyagi also presented prizes to the winners. Park Seong Hum MD of Focustek (President of KOSMA) sponsored and presented prizes.

The winners included Junior Champion Kashika, Nyra Singh, and Vubhi Shrivastava, Lady Champions Ms. Anshana Monga, Ms. Monica Tandon, and Ms Garima. The Longest Drive prize was won by Navin Agarwal, while the Closest to Pin went to Ikjyot Singh Behl. Noh Young Jin won the Straightest Drive. Sudhir Seth of Sudhir Gensets emerged as the winner of the most coveted prize “Hole in One”.

Sunil Tyagi of Zeus Law and CHO Janghyeun with the Best Dosti award. The Shabashi award went to PARK Euy Don and Aronjit Rosha who together scored 40 pints. Nitesh L Mishra and Kyeong Gyuyeong were declared Dosti Champions with 43 points. Sanjeev K Ahuja, Founder/Editor-in-Chief & CEO, Asian Community News (ACN) was the Master of Ceremonies for the tee-off and prize distribution ceremony. Parth Sharma, General-Secretary, IRKFS was the EmCee for the Gala Dinner event.

Later during the Gala Dinner, Federation of Korean Associations in India president Park Euy Don introduced and announced the project of publishing a book on 70 years of presence of Korean community in India. He also introduced the writing and editing committee through a LED presentation with photo of all members of this committee.

Some of the Korean participants included KIA INDIA, Shinhan Bank, KOTRA, Korea Expressway Corporation, Asiana Airlines, New Delhi Branch KITA, SD Biosensor, World OKTA, Ernst & Young, Industrial Bank of Korea, Elentec, Nonghyup Bank, Korea International Economic Policy Institute, NEXEN TIRE CORP, MIRAE construction, JY GOLF STORY, Gungho exim, YHENGEERING, INKO TOUR AND TRAVELS, KAMA, Hotel Deluna, Jahwa Electronics, Ducuria Pvt Ltd, TAEHWA ENTERPRISES INDIA PVT. LTD., SG AUTOTECH SOLUTIONS PVT LTD, FOCUSTEK, Vatech India, SHINKWANG Electronics pvt Ltd, SIETC, Samwha India Energy Savings Pvt. Ltd., D&B Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Hankuk construction, HAHNTEC SECURITY NETWORKS PVT LTD, Asian Community News (ACN), and LS Cable & System.

Later the Korean embassy stated, “We had a ‘Korea-India Friendship Night’ on Dec 1 at DGC. Ambassador Chang Jae-bok (장재복) delivered congratulatory speech and performed the lively ‘#Naatu #Naatu’ dance with dance crew. Also, Chief Guest Amitabh Kant (Amitabh Kant) expressed his excitement during his speech about the bright future of Korea-India relationship. These shared moments deepened the bond between two nations.”

In another SM post the embassy stated, “Exciting moments at the India-Korea Harmony Cup organized by VFS and India-Korea Friendship Society on Dec 1, 2023. Ambassador Chang Jae-bok engaged with participants, including Shri. Amitabh Kant(Amitabh Kant), G20 Sherpa. Strengthening ties through sports!.”

Prabuddha Sen, COO, South Asia, VFS Global, said, “India and South Korea are strategic partners, and it extends across businesses. VFS Global has been partners with the Embassy of the Republic of South Korea in New Delhi for the past ten years, offering visa services. We have recently opened Visa Application Centres in Chennai and Bengaluru and are committed to cementing it further. As a testament to our enduring partnership, we organised a golf tournament, symbolising the strength and longevity of the diplomatic ties between our two nations.”

VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. VFS Global is the trusted partner of 70 client governments, operating a global network with more than 3,300 Application Centres in 149 countries. The company has processed over 272 million applications since its inception in 2001. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, enabling them ton focus entirely on the critical assessment task.