THE second Footgolf World Cup kicked off at the Pilar Golf Club near Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Tuesday.

    A total of 230 players from 26 countries are competing at a 18-hole course.

    “Compared with the training courses at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, the course here has a longer distance between holes and is more demanding on players,” said Chinese national team member Liu Mengyang.

    China has sent a four-member team in the nation’s debut at this year’s World Cup. Members of Federation for International Footgolf (FIFG) before 2015 can bring up to 16 players to represent their country. The new countries that join the international federation in 2015 can enter a maximum of 4 players.

    Javier de Ancizar, president of the Argentine federation, opened the press conference after the practice day.

    “I am so happy, that we are here in the second World Cup. It was a difficult year from the announcement that said we were going to organize the biggest footgolf event ever. I want to say thank you for everybody who was involved in our long journey.” It was a long journey for the Chinese delegation, who arrived in Argentina on Monday after a 34-hour travel.

    Gabor Gelencser, vice president of the FIFG, the organizer of the first World Cup, told the press, that the facilities and course were fantastic.

    “We came here to defend our title. The weather conditions are better for the Argentine players than the others who come from Europe. They have world class players, and the British, Swiss and U.S. footgolfers have the chance to grab the gold medal. This sport is growing from week to week, there are countries, who applied to get involved in the FIFG’s plans.”

    Javier de Ancizar added the international federation could join the Sportaccord, but it needed more time.

    “We want to join them, but we have to organize a lot of international events, we need more countries. The final goal is to join the Olympic family.”

    A draw was also held Tuesday for individual competition for all players, with China’s four players in different groups.

    China’s Ji Jie was drawn against Uruguay’s Donenech Lukas, Japan’s Kuwata Hiroyuki, and Hungary’s Molnar Arnold.

    Liu Mengyang will face Mexico’s Brindis Manuel, Norway’s Borgen Oystein, and Japan’s Horinouchi Satoshi.

    Luan Chen was drawn in the same group with Khatib Sharif of the United States, Ruig Juan of Argentina and Goni Miguel of Mexico while Zhang Yunlong was in the same group with Germany’s Anderson Chris, Mexico’s Porras Abraham, and Sweden’s Svensson Tommy.

    (SD News)