Smog delays start of Panasonic Open India golf

Low visibility due to toxic smog enveloping Delhi and its surrounding areas on Thursday delayed start of USD 400,000 Panasonic Open India golf tournament. With a thick layer of xious smog blanketing Delhi-NCR, organisers were forced to push start of Asian Tour event at Classic Golf and Country Club here from 6:40 am to 11:00 am, while rescheduling afteron start. groups which were scheduled to tee off in afteron session will w begin ir campaign on Friday.

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"Due to poor visibility and wear conditions, Tournament Committee has made following decision: Round 1 Tee Times will w be based on a 4 tee shotgun start with a start time of 11:00 am (Thursday)," Panasonic Open India said in a statement.

"Players originally in Round 1 Afteron session will w tee off on Friday 11:00 am based on a 4 tee shotgun start."

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last four winners including defending champion Khalin Joshi are in field of 126 players at Panasonic Open India, which has been shifted out of Delhi Golf Club (DGC) for first time. According to an official, tournament is likely to be reduced to three days with golfers competing over 54 holes. smog, resulting from raging farm fires and unfavourable wear, pushed pollution in Delhi-NCR towards "emergency" zone once again, prompting authorities to order closure of schools till vember 15 -- second time in two weeks.

air quality in Delhi on Thursday remained in severe category with AQI being recorded at 460. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 severe, while AQI above 500 falls in severe plus category. Earlier this month, India and Bangladesh had played first T20 International at Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi, despite severe post-Diwali air pollution. 

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