Fourteen golfers from Australia are set to participate in the Jack Akbar Shield 2024 golf tournament, which begins today at the Fiji Golf Club.
Susan Yee, secretary of the Fiji Senior Golfers Association, stated that the tournament has been an annual event that has continued to grow, with an expected field of 64 competitors this year.
Yee mentioned that all past winners, except Jack Reddy, will compete this time, creating excitement over whether a previous winner will claim the title again or if a new champion will emerge. The competition will be run as a stroke event, where the winner will be determined by the lowest net score, regardless of gender.
The Jack Akbar Shield was established in 2015 to honor the legacy of golf enthusiast Mohammed Razak Akbar, who passed away in Malaysia in 2014. Yee highlighted that this tournament has become a highly anticipated part of the seniors’ golf calendar since Akbar’s death.
Born in Suva in 1929, Akbar was educated at Marist Brothers Primary School and St Teresa Catholic School. He started his career as an apprentice at the Public Works Department and later founded Akbar Engineering Ltd in 1974. Although a keen tennis player in his youth, he turned to golf in the late 1970s after devoting years to his engineering business.
His commitment to exercise was essential in managing the diabetes he developed in his 40s. Beyond his sports interests, Akbar was also dedicated to social service, holding numerous leadership roles in various organizations, including the Suva Jaycees and the Rotary Club. He was recognized for his contributions with an MBE from the Queen in 1987.
Akbar’s late wife, Gulnoor Akbar, was a constant presence at the Jack Akbar Shield prizegiving ceremonies. Shalendra Prasad, the current champion, will be defending his title at this year’s event.