UMA extends support to Vivek Anand

KARACHI: Vivek Anand, the 17-year-old Karachi boy, who won a brand new car through a stunning hole-in-one at the UMA 22nd CNS Open Golf Championship, was in the limelight here at Karachi Golf Club on Friday.

Surrounded by cameras, he received more good news when United Marine Agencies (UMA) — the main sponsors of the Rs7 million championship — announced a further Rs400,000 for the young golfer to help him pay for the taxes and other formalities to drive away with the Toyota Fortuner that he won by acing the fourth hole at KGC on Thursday evening.

“We at UMA have always supported the cause of Pakistan golf and will continue doing it in the future,” Muhammad Saim Sohail, Executive Director of UMA, told reporters at KGC on Friday.“It is the vision of our chief executive Mr. Sohail Shams to take Pakistan golf to the next level where our golfers can win laurels for the country on the international circuit,” he added.

“That is precisely the reason why we have announced Rs400,000 for young Vivek Anand. That’s the amount he needed to drive away with the Fortuner that he won by making a hole-in-one.“We are very happy for Vivek, who is a student and an avid golfer. He has lit up our championship with his excellent feat.

“Another important aspect is that Vivek represents our minorities. The Quaid-e-Azam was a great believer in minorities’ rights. We feel honoured to follow in his footsteps by supporting the minority communities of our country,” he said.

Saim stressed that Vivek’s feat will also motivate other young golfers to follow the game more seriously.“The young players now know that golf can be a very rewarding game,” he said.Others present at the ceremony to celebrate Vivek’s feat included Commodore Saqib Khattak, the Commanding Officer of PNS Bahadur and Saleem Godil, CEO of Toyota Central Motors.