Khalin Joshi closed with a bogey-free 31 to win the rain-shortened SECL presents Nava Raipur Open by one stroke and climb to seventh in the Race to DP World India Championship.
Khalin Joshi secured his third title of the season with a one-stroke victory at the inaugural INR 1 crore SECL presents Nava Raipur Open 2026 at Fairway Golf & Lake Resort.
The 34-year-old Bengaluru golfer (29-30-33-31) made three consecutive birdies from the third to the fifth holes of his final nine to finish at 13-under 123.
Persistent rain left the course unsuitable for full rounds, forcing the Tournament Committee to reduce each of the four rounds to nine holes over the back nine. Friday’s finale was also suspended for several hours before play eventually resumed.
“After the delay, the course did not appear playable, and we heard the final round might be abandoned,” Joshi said. “I had to regain my focus and prepare mentally in case we restarted. I stayed calm, and I’m delighted with how I handled it.”
The victory followed Joshi’s successes at the Andhra Open in April and J&K Open in August. It was his ninth DP World PGTI title, adding to the Asian Tour crown he won at the 2018 Panasonic Open India.
Joshi collected INR 15 lakh and moved from 12th to seventh in the Race to DP World India Championship, taking his season earnings to INR 52,34,225.
Om Prakash Chouhan matched the day’s lowest score with a five-under 29, featuring an eagle and three birdies. He shared second at 12-under with Raunil Kukar and Anshul Patel.
The result lifted Kukar and Patel inside the top 60 in the season standings, securing their playing rights and helping them avoid Qualifying School.
Divyanshu Bajaj, Pritish Singh Karayat and Angad Cheema shared fifth at 11-under.
Joshi will next compete at Karnataka Golf Association, his home course since childhood, before turning his attention towards the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club—the venue of his first international victory in 2018.
Photo – PGTI / Champion Khalin Joshi (2nd from right) receives his trophy from the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Shri Arun Sao (2nd from left). Shri Shyam Sunder Bajaj, Vice President & Head of State, Corporate Affairs & Corporate Communications, Chhattisgarh (extreme left) and Mr. Vikas Singh, Chief Business Officer, DP World PGTI (extreme right), were also present on the occasion.
