BENGALURU, July 2, 2026: Two Indian golfers with disabilities secured podium finishes in Nett Stroke Play at the Czech Disabled Golf Masters 2026, held at Golf Resort Black Bridge, Prague.
Vishnu Vardhan Bhati from NOIDA finished second with an overall 2 under par. Bhati led the field at 6 under after Round 1 but faced energy-sapping heat during the final round to secure the runner-up position.
Ankush Saha from Bengaluru clinched third place with a level-par total. Saha was placed 10th after Round 1 with a 3 over 75 but carded a net 3 under in Round 2 to finish strong. He secured third place based on a better Round 2 score.
Home player Teresa Srsnova from the Czech Republic won the event with a total of 2 under, also decided on a better Round 2 score.
Bhati, an amputee, took up golf three years ago after representing India in para cricket at the Para Cricket World Cup 2019 in England. He previously played the English Open for Disabled Golfers in Durham in 2025 and the Daikin Madrid Cup in Spain. He held a World Ranking for Golfers with Disability of 182 in Stableford before this event.
For Saha, this was his debut in an EDGA calendar tournament. A marathoner with intellectual disability, Saha is a Special Olympics gold medallist from 2014, silver medallist from 2015, and won gold in individual skills at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. He also participated in the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in 2025.
The Czech Disabled Golf Masters, conducted by the Czech Disabled Golf Association for the sixth year, is a leading event on the EDGA calendar.
The podium finishes come amid rapid growth in Adaptive Golf in India, led by the Adaptive Golf Alliance Foundation (AGAF), a Section 8 non-profit set up six months ago. From just four EDGA Player pass holders in November 2025, the number has risen to 28 in June 2026 with AGAF’s support.
From June 1 to 3, 2026, AGAF hosted the 1st India Adaptive Golf Open 2026 at Bangalore Golf Club. The event saw 19 participants with disabilities, including seven with serious visual impairment and three with intellectual disabilities.
Bhati and Saha are the first players supported by AGAF for international competition. Their participation was sponsored by Genesis IT Innovations, Bengaluru.
Chandrashekar Kini, Director of AGAF and a TARS Level 3 Rules Official, said, “Golf is a highly inclusive sport. It has huge potential to positively impact the lives of all those who take up the game, not just persons with disability. There is considerable potential for members of the armed forces, disabled in service, to find rehabilitation through golf, as seen in western countries.”
Kini added that with these successes, continued development by AGAF, and support from sponsors, clubs, governments, and golf administrators, India could perform well at the Paralympic Games if golf is included.
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