DHAKA: Siddikur Rahman will be looking for a result worthy of his status as Bangladesh`s number one golfer when he steps up to the tee at the $1.3 million Hong Kong Open which returns to the spectacular Hong Kong Golf Club Dec 5-8.

The 29-year-old holds the distinction of having achieved many `firsts` for his country.

He was the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour in Brunei in 2010 and is also the pioneer to represent his country in the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf this week.

A second victory on the region`s premier Tour in India earlier this month has also ensured Siddikur finishes inside the top-10 of the Asian Tour Order of Merit for the third time in the last four years.

The Bangladeshi is now raising the bar higher and has set his sights on winning the storied Hong Kong Open, which is also one of the most important events on the Asian Tour Schedule.

"After winning two Asian Tour tournaments, it would be good if I can go on to win a co-sanctioned tournament with the European Tour. My target is always to win golf tournaments and I`m hoping I can do it in Hong Kong," said Siddikur Friday.

The competition is Hong Kong`s oldest professional sporting event where its early beginning dates back to 1959. It is co-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association.

The Hong Kong Open is the third event of The 2014 Race to Dubai, and one of the last on the 2013 Asian Tour schedule.

Siddikur will be up against defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, who will defend the title he won in record-breaking fashion 12 months ago, when he became the oldest winner in European Tour history at the age of 48 years and 318 days.

Other likely contenders include China`s Liang Wen-chong, who won his third Asian Tour title in Philippines last week, Chinese teen prodigy Guan Tian-lang and India`s heavyweights Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar.

Source: business-standard.com
BDST: 0902 HRS, NOV 23, 2013