Roller coaster ride for Kapur

Delhiite overcame surgery to lift his second Asian Tour title

It’s been a rather topsy-turvy few months for Shiv Kapur, beginning with a life-threatening condition, ending an 11-year wait for his second Asian Tour title, and now, his wife and him expecting their first child.

In August 2016 Kapur was diagnosed with a tennis-ball-sized abscess in his liver that forced him out of the game.

Kapur recollected the nightmarish events that ensued post his surgery adding that he had begun to doubt himself.

“I underestimated it. I thought it was going to be a routine surgery and coming back would be fine. But I got really weak, my muscles and my legs were weak and my abdomen. So it was tough,” said the 35-year-old.

“I came back soon after and then as soon as I came back I wasn’t hitting the ball distances I was used to so I was getting frustrated and getting into bad habits. I was trying to make compensations in technique so as to able to optimize distances and stuff. I think the lesson to be learnt in the future is if you are injured take your time to come back,” he added with a word of caution.

Impressive comeback

But the steely Delhiite refused to lie low and overcame all odds to hit the course by December.

Though he didn’t endure the best return, things turned around in April and Kapur romped to the title at the Yeangder Heritage in Chinese Taipei.

“A big load was lifted. More from the perspective that I have been close so many times and not been able to win and then you start questioning yourself whether you still got it or don’t have it. It’s amazing how a week can change everything.

“ I wouldn’t value the win as much if I hadn’t been through what I went through (surgery). In a way it worked out quite well,”he said.

The 2005 Volvo Masters of Asia champion followed this up with another top result, finishing tied-2 at the Thailand Open.

Preparing to take on a competitve field at the TAKE Solutions Masters at the Karnataka Golf Association in Bengaluru, Shiv revealed that he may not stay the entirety of the event if his wife, who is due anytime, delivers.

“My wife has been very cooperative, she told me to come and play this week even though we will be expecting our first child next week. Right now my phone will be on standby just in case I have to go back and enjoy the birth of our first child. My wife is in the emergency dial list and in case I have to, I’ll go back to the baby,” he beamed.