The field of 94 competitors this year also includes 1996 winner Anjali Chopra, Irina Brar, the 15-year-old winner of the Punjab Open this year, and Vandana Aggarwal, among others.

More than 25 women golfers will vie for the top six spots in the 72-hole open stroke play event.

From this year, selection for the national team would require players to finish with a stroke average of 12 over par for 72 holes, or less, the Indian Golf Union has stipulated.

The Delhi Ladies Open week will begin concurrently with the championship and feature handicap events for all categories, including the Siel Junior Girls Trophy for under-21 players. A Siel Trophy has been introduced this year for the best gross score in the 25-36 handicap category.

Like last year, sponsors Siel Ltd have announced a Honda City car as prize for the first hole-in-one, the chosen hole being the tough fifth hole. The Northern India Championship is one of the six most important `categorised' tournaments of the IGU Ladies Section, performance in which is a criterion for selection for international events.