By A Stafff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 27: History-making Subash Tamang is aiming for another heart-warming success when he tees-off in the eighth edition of the Faldo Series Nepal Championship next week.
Less than a month after claiming Nepal's first individual golfing gold medal at the 13th South Asian Games, the 17-year-old will make an emotional return to Gokarna Forest Golf Resort as an overwhelming favourite in the 11th event of the 2019-20 Faldo Series Asia season.
"I believe the success in the South Asian Games has given me a new life," said Subash, who joined forces with Sukra Bahadur Rai, Tanka Bahadur Karki and Niraj Tamang to add a second gold medal by topping the standings in the men's team event.
It was the latest chapter in Subash's remarkable rags to riches tale that has catapulted him to stardom in Nepal and captured the imagination of the region's golfing fraternity.
Hailing from a poverty-stricken family in a remote part of Lalitpur district, some 40 kilometres south of the capital Kathmandu, Subash has defied astonishing odds to carve himself a career in golf, rising to 626th in The R&A's World Amateur Golf Ranking and provoking hopes of a brighter future for himself and his family.
For now, Subash is focused on retaining his Faldo Series Nepal Championship title at the Gokarna course, situated inside the Gokarna Protected Forest, 10 kilometres from Kathmandu city and Tribhuvan International Airport.
Another victory there would guarantee him a return trip to Vietnam's Laguna Lăng Cô in March, 2020 for the 14th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, to be hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
Competing in the Boys' Under-16 category at Laguna Lăng Cô this year, Subash improved his score each day, following an opening 79 with rounds of 76 and 73 that saw him finish tied for 14th in his age group.
Six-time Major champion Faldo said: "It was uplifting to see the success Subash achieved at the South Asian Games. He deserves tremendous credit. His perseverance and determination is an inspiration and I look forward to congratulating him in person."