Thaindian News

Shiga (Japan), Sep 21 (IANS) India’s Anirban Lahiri hopes to repeat his winning form when he competes at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open which begins Thursday.

Lahiri’s entry into this week’s $1.7 million event — jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour — was sealed when he won his maiden title at the Indian edition of the Panasonic Open earlier this year.

While Lahiri still has fond memories of his famous play-off victory, he is ready to put that behind him and ignite another title charge at the Biwako Country Club.

“That win was a stepping stone to bigger things and the way I looked at it, it was great that it happened but now I need to move on and keep performing well,” said Lahiri.

“You always look to get your second win as soon as you can and reassure yourself that you can win over and over again. It is important to keep that habit going,” added the Indian.

Meanwhile, five-time Asian Tour winner Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei is also eager to enter the winner’s circle again.

Lin’s last win came on home soil in 2009 and while he has enjoyed three top-15 finishes this season, the 37-year-old is setting his sights on a sixth Tour victory.

“You show up at a golf tournament so that you can put yourself in contention for the title and that is what I intend to do again this week,” said Lin.

“It is going to get busy with a good line-up of tournaments from now till the end of the year. I hope to peak now and carry that form through to the end of the season,” added the 37-year-old.

Local favourite Ryo Ishikawa, nicknamed the “Bashful Prince” by the Japanese media will be closely watched again at this week’s showpiece.

Since winning a Japan Golf Tour event at the age of 15, Ishikawa has taken the world of golf by storm with his play and boyish good looks.

Other top players expected to vie for top honours include Korea’s Noh Seung-yul, Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Chinese Taipei’s Chan Yih-shin who won in Macau last week.