After becoming the first Indian to join the European Tour in 1998, JEEV MIlKHA SINGH has seen Indian golf become what it is today. The most recognisable face in Indian golf talks to GARIMA VERMA about the rights and wrongs that have happened in that journey, the future vis-a-vis golf’s entry into the Olympics once again, his father’s biopic and a lot more...
You were the first Indian to qualify for the European Tour. What it meant for an Indian golfer and Indian golf at large thenIJ
I had to work very hard to achieve that and it meant a lot for Indian golf too. looking at Jeev the youngsters would feel ‘if he can do it, if he can win, I can do better’
Given the infrastructure and facilities at your time, was the achievement tougherIJ
It definitely was. The facilities and courses are better now. There’s so much information available on the internet. The youngsters now know how to keep themselves fit, which area to focus on, how to prevent injuries. They should take advantage of this.
We are old school. We just knew how to put the ball into the hole somehow. These guys work more, they spend hours in the gym. At the age of 21, these guys are working on the right muscles for the game and it’s fantastic.
You have been a part of the Indian golf’s journey for quite a long time. Is it going the right wayIJ
Yes. I think it is moving in the right direction. There’s a lot more awareness and the talent coming out is fantastic. It’s great to see guys like Gaganjeet (Bhullar), Anirban (lahiri), Himmat (Rai) and even younger golfers play the way they are and they are hungry.
When we compare Indian golf with other countries like Japan, Korea or Thailand, have we done enough in all this whileIJ
A country on the whole, I’d say we have done well. I’m sure we’d do better. At our time, Jyoti (Randhawa), Arjun (Atwal) and I were constantly pushing each other to do better. Competition is the best thing to have. For some five years or so, Indian golf didn’t have that. Now, these guys are competing and pushing each other. If Gagan has won, Anirban automatically is more driven to win the next one. That drive, that hunger is very important.
Golf is back into the Olympics for 2016...
That’s the best thing to have happen to golf. It’s a big boost for golf. And it’s a great thing for Indian golf. I would want to request the Government to take charge and put this on course. We should have more public-driving ranges in our country. You never know there could be a world champion coming out of India. China had started preparing when the decision was announced and we need to do exactly the same. For my family too, it’s a great thing. Dad did it 50 years ago (represent the country in the Games) and if I can also do it, it will be fantastic. And, winning a medal would be icing on the cake.
Is that an extra motivationIJ
Definitely. For sure it is. I’ll be 45 and I think I’d be good enough to go. Dad always feels bad about the mistake that he made (slowing down in the last 250 metres in the 1960 Rome Olympics final of 400m race and hence missing out on a medal by a whisker). He was the fastest. The only regret in his life if he has any is this.
You won Scottish Open last year at 40. What keeps you goingIJ
I love this game. I am making a living out of something I love. I am very fortunate. I feel I have got almost eight years of golf left in me and I want to make the most of it.
Is that why you even play through injuriesIJ
Yeah, I do that a lot. I just can’t make myself sit without doing anything. And the toughest part is getting rid of all those negativities that you develop in your game while you are injured. And right now I am trying to do that. When I was playing through injuries, there were many things I developed in my way of hitting, swing etc that I now have to undo. Then I have to get back into the world top 100 and top 50. I feel good, my swing feels good. For these last two months I have been feeling I am moving in the right direction.
How tough is to be patient and wait for that elusive winIJ
You need a lot of patience. You just need to keep believing in yourself and think that it’s just around the corner. You have days when you feel bad and that’s fine, that’s part of the game. More so in golf, because you can never say who’s going to do well. Even a Tiger Woods can’t say that ‘I’ll shoot a five under today.’
Excited about ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’IJ
Yeah, it’s coming out on July 12. I think they have done an excellent job. It’s not just a biopic, it’s an inspirational story, about all the hardships my father faced to do what he wanted. The youth of today complains many times ‘yaar mereko to chance hi nahin mila, opportunity nahin mila’, but if you want to do something in life you will and this movie is about that. Farhan (Akhtar) is looking the part. He’s lived Milkha Singh for two years and he’s done an excellent job. I hope it goes to the Oscars, it’s that good. I have been told by the director and the whole team that people will cry and come out with a thought in their mind that I want to do something in my life, Zindagi waste nahin karni mereko, kuch karna hai. It’s all about that message.
Do you also aspire to reach that level when people can make a film on youIJ
I think if I can win a Major Championship then I might get close to him. My father still jokes around with me... whenever we go to a railway station or airport, agar 100 aadmi unke paas aate hain to mere paas 5 aate hain autograph ke liye. He then tiells them ‘ye mera ladka hai Jeev, ye golf khelta hai’. And, they are like: oh yeah, we have heard about you.
You father has been the face of Indian athletics. How much impact he had on youIJ And, was it tougher to prove yourself when you had such a famous fatherIJ
Coming from a sporting background I was lucky enough that my parents let me choose any sport that I wanted to play. I was fortunate enough to take up golf. I like this sport. I did running but walking is better.
I had a lot of pressure in everything I did. People would always say that ‘Milkha Singh ka ladka jeetta kyun nahin haiIJ’ But you have to deal with that. But I am proud that I was born in a house like that. The guidance that both of my parents gave me was fantastic. My father treated me like a friend but he was firm where he needed to be. He still keeps telling me everyday ‘practice nahin karoge toh you’ll not achieve anything’. I tell him ‘dad I am 40 ab toh bas karo’. He says ‘you are still my child’.If I can raise our child like that, give him such values, I would think I have done alright as a parent.