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A world of opportunities

Atique Anam
The win in the Hero Indian IO p e n on Sunday has not only given
S i d d i k u r Rahman a big leap in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, but it has also put the Bangladeshi in contention for a place in Team Asia which will face Team Europe for the inaugural edition of
EurAsia Cup which will be held in Malaysia in March 2014.
The leading available four Asian players from the final 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit will earn automatic places in the Ryder Cup-style showdown while three spots are available from the Official World Golf Ranking and further three more from captains' picks.
Barring any disastrous performance in the four remaining events of the Asian Tour season, Siddikur is highly likely to make the cut by being among the top three players on tour. Even if he fails slips, Siddikur will be in prime contention with his ranking in world golf, which is currently 247, but is expected to be much higher when his Indian Open exploits are taken into consideration.
Two months ago, Siddikur was faced with a similar situation. He was out of the top ten in the Order of Merit, going into the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, knowing that he will need to get inside the top ten for a place in the lucrative CIMB Classic. Siddikur finished third in that tournament, just enough to sneak himself into the top ten and thereby earning a card for the CIMB Classic. It was a big break for him as he
would be pitted alongside world famous golfers Keegan Bradley, Ernie Els and Bubba Watson.
Siddikur did not set the CIMB Classic on fire by finishing a modest 25th, but what he gained from the event was invaluable - the experience of playing alongside these greats, learning how they approach the game in an aggressive manner.
According to Siddikur's own admission, this aggres-
sion is what has made him a much better player, and the outcome is quite evident.
"My goal is definitely to qualify for the EurAsia Cup. I think it is going to be an exciting event. I hope I will be able to play. It looks like I'm in a good position to qualify," said Siddikur.
The EurAsia Cup will be played over three days with five Fourball, five Foursomes and 10 Singles matches. The team captains for both Asia and Europe will be announced later.
Siddikur's career so far has been a story of grabbing opportunities at the right time. Before he won his maiden Asian Tour Title at the 2010 Brunei Open, all Siddikur worried about was covering his tour expenses with whatever he earned as prize money. That Brunei victory gave Siddikur some breathing space, a chance to experiment with his game and the luxury of appointing a good coach and psychologist.
Now that Siddikur has won his second tour title, he will have a world of confidence with which to go into this month's World Cup of Golf in Australia and approach the EurAsia Cup next year - where the windows of opportunities will be aplenty.