Teenager Rhea Nair will defend her title in the Sultan Ahmed Shah Malaysia UAE Golf Classic when she will be among the 60 UAE-based golfers scheduled to tour Malaysia from October 24-28.

This is the second edition of the tournament after a delegation of 60 golfers visited the UAE in January this year.

The UAE delegation will be headed by the UAE Golf Association Chairman, Mohammed Al Abbar, who will also play in the day-long Strokeplay tournament on October 26 at the 18-hole Astana Golf Club in Kantan.

"The main aim behind such exchanges is to foster close relations between the two countries," the Malaysia ambassador to the UAE, Sayed Hussein Al Habshee said at a press conference held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Deira yesterday. "We have been very successful in forging closer ties between the two countries," he added.

Al Habshee added that such exchanges also encourage businesses as majority of people who play golf here in the UAE belong to the corporate sector.

He also revealed that the tournament was being held to coincide the birthday of Sultan Ahmed Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Football Confederation.

The UGA Secretary General, Khalid Al Halyan, said that Malaysia was like a role model for the UAE. "We share the same traditional and religious background."

He promised a strong presence of the UAE golfers for the tournament for which the Malaysian Airlines is offering special packages. The airline is giving special fares for the participants. For first class the return fare will be Dh6,450 while Dh4,950 will be the fare for the Gold club class and the economy class return ticket will cost Dh1,950.

The entry forms are available at the UGA office and first 60 will be given entries.

Confirming defending champion Rhea's participation, her father Ashok Nair said: "Yes, Rhea (14) will take part and we will go to Malaysia, it is a great tournament."