Padmashri Jeev keeps Indian flag fluttering at Qatar Maters

Doha, Jan 26 (UNI) Buoyed after receiving the Padmashri award, Jeev Milkha Singh kept the Tricolour fluttering on the Republic Day as he moved up to a tied eighth spot on Day Two of the 2.2 million dollar Qatar Masters which saw only three Indians making the cut.

The bogey on the ninth hole was the only blemish as, top Indian golfer Jeev returned a superb four-under 68 card advance into next round with an impressive aggregate of seven-under 137. Jeev is four shots off the lead held jointly by Aussie Richard (65) Green and Retief Goosen (68).

Jeev emulated his equally famous father Milkha Singh, an Olympic sprinter, as a proud recipient of the Padmashri Award for excellence, following his outstanding year in 2006 where he won four times globally, claimed the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit title and rose to 37th place on the Official World Golf Ranking.

''This award will always stay with me for the rest of my life. My father got that too in 1959 and now I've got it in 2007. It's our Republic day today and I'm very excited about this award from the Indian government. It's one of the highest awards for Indians. It's a big honour for me. I've always grown up hearing my father talk about the award and now I can tell him I've got it too,'' said a delighted Jeev, who could bare sleep last night as he was innundated by the phone calls from his well-wishers.

''I got a lot of calls and a lot of messages. A lot of people were trying to wake me up on the phone last night but I put my phone on silent mode. When I woke up this morning, I had something like 20 missed calls,'' he said.

Tied fourth overnight, mercurial Shiv Kapur floundered and went over par (73) to slip to tied 20th spot with four-under overall. SSP Chowrasia (71) was on his way to exit when he came up with a late charge firing in four birdies in last five holes to make the cut.

Meanwhile, Jyoti Randhawa was a notable casualty as the ace golfer missed the cut with three other compatriots.

Randhawa returned a poor two-over 73 card to miss by just a stroke his second consecutive cut. Gaurav Ghei (69), Rahil Gangjee (74) and Amandeep Johl (73) also fell by the wayside.

UNI