Gaganjeet Bhullar, India's top golfer on the Asian Tour with an impressive 11 titles, has expressed that participating in the Paris Olympics is a memory he will treasure forever. His involvement in this prestigious event highlights his commitment and adds a significant achievement to his already remarkable career. Competing in the Olympics is a dream for many athletes, and for Bhullar, it marks one of the pinnacle moments of his golfing journey.

Reflecting on his debut at the Paris Olympics last week, Bhullar spoke of immense pride and achievement, stating, "It grants me the title of Olympian for life, which I consider the most incredible honor." As a recipient of the Dubai Golden Visa, Bhullar did not contend for a medal, finishing tied for 45th. Nonetheless, he realized a lifelong dream to compete in an event that holds great significance for his family.

"I come from a family of sports enthusiasts. My father was an international athlete, my mother a hockey player, and my uncle represented India in two Olympics and three Asian Games, winning a gold medal," Bhullar recounted. "This was a milestone I eagerly anticipated. I missed the last two Olympics, finishing third in the Indian rankings. Playing in the Olympics was deeply personal and emotional, especially with my parents and family present last week."

Bhullar shot rounds of 75, 69, 71, and 70, finishing one over, 20 shots behind gold medalist Scottie Scheffler. "It was an incredible experience. I've never witnessed such a large crowd at a golf event, cheering for all 60 players with 50,000 to 55,000 people daily," he described. "The organizers were also surprised by the turnout. I wish I had performed slightly better; I struggled on Thursday but played well otherwise."

World number one Scottie Scheffler secured the gold, with Tommy Fleetwood taking silver and Japan's Matsuyama Hideki winning bronze. Bhullar's last victory on the Asian Tour was at the BNI Indonesian Masters last year, and he also won the Chandigarh Open in April on India's domestic tour, where he has claimed victory 14 times. Despite not yet reaching his peak this year, Bhullar feels he is close to his best form.

"I'm playing quite well," Bhullar noted. "I felt I played strong earlier this year, though the scores didn't reflect it. I'm highly confident; it's just a matter of a few adjustments. A couple of good rounds will boost my confidence, which is already high." The next event on the Asian Tour after this week's International Series England is the $500,000 Mandiri Indonesia Open from August 29th to September 1st, 2024.