Promising youngsters Rahil Gangjee and Shiv Kapur will spearhead the Indian challenge at the US $200,000 Crowne Plaza Open at Grand Epoch City Golf Club in Beijing [Images].

The event, which was inaugurated last year in Shanghai, has attracted a strong field, led by Thaworn Wiratchant, the Asian Order of Merit leader.

Other Indians who will take a shot in this Asian tour event include Harmeet Kahlon, the 2002 Hero Honda Masters champion. Uttam Singh Mundy, who had a good finish at the Mercuries Masters last week, Digvijay Singh, Vivek Bhandari, Gurbaaz Mann and KPS Sekhon, all of whom have taken a break from the Indian Tour.

However, regular Asian Tour player Amandeep Johl would be skipping the event as he is playing in the Dunhill Links Tournament in Europe this week.

Mukesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar, who were also entered for the event, withdrew at the last minute due to problems in travel arrangements.

There will be added incentive for this week's winner as lifting the Crowne Plaza Open will also mean a ticket to the lucrative HSBC Champions tournament, which will be staged in Shanghai in November.

World number one Tiger Woods [Images] has already confirmed his entry for the US $5 million event, which is Asia's richest.

All eyes will be on Thaworn, who will be looking to extend his lead on the Order of Merit in the absence of compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, who lies in second place.