Shiv Kapur will be eager to celebrate another famous triumph when he heads to Bangkok from January 11-13 for his Royal Trophy debut.

The young Indian star launched his career in glorious style on Thai soil with his victory in the 2005 Masters of Asia, just a few months after he turned professional.

That victory came just a month after Kapur had finished runner-up in the Double A International Open - also in Thailand – as he rocketed from 85th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit to fourth, making him an automatic choice as rookie of the year.

The stylish 25 year old has yet to add to that victory – although he could not have gone much closer than he did when finishing runner-up at the 2007 Indonesian Open – and he admits the prospect of taking another big career step in Thailand is an exciting one.

He commented: “Thailand seems to have been a golden thread in my career so far, and it seems somehow appropriate that I will be making my debut for Asia there.

“It is a massive honor, and one I could not really have imagined would come my way so soon. But it seems our Asian Team Captain, Joe Ozaki, wants to have a good blend of youth and experience, and I will do everything I can to repay his trust in me.”

Ozaki’s Team is also nicely balanced in terms of the combination of different nationalities he has selected. Kapur joins fellow Indian luminary Jeev Milkha Singh in the Bangkok line-up, while Ozaki has gone for two of his Japanese countrymen in Toru Taniguchi and Hideto Tanihara, a couple of bang in-form Korean aces in Charlie Wi and Lee Dong-Hwan, and the crowd-pleasing Thai trio of Thongchai Jaidee, Prayad Marksaeng and Chapchai Nirat.

Ozaki admitted he was happy to have at least two players from each of the Asian countries represented – but insisted that did not mean his pairings were already set in stone.

He said: “It is good to have familiar faces and people who speak the same language as you in the team room when we are still so new to team golf. But golf is an international language, and I would be most surprised if the opportunity to mix and match different nationalities did not present itself.

“We are all in this together, and how players’ games fit together is far more important than whether they have common interests away from the course. Our only chance of beating the more experienced Europeans is by truly coming together as a team, and embracing the concept that we are all Asians determined to do our best for our Continent.”

The European line-up has also been completed with David Howell, twice a Ryder Cup winner and victorious in the first Royal trophy two years ago, securing the final place in Seve Ballesteros’ Team.

He joins four other players with winning form in both the Ryder Cup and the Royal Trophy - Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Niclas Fasth, and Robert Karlsson, who were all members of Seve’s triumphant team in 2007. That allows Ballesteros greater latitude to give a gentle introduction to his four rookies - Raphael Jacquelin, Gregory Havret, Anders Hansen, and Graeme Storm.

Kapur’s appointment to the Asian Team will not have come as too much of a surprise to regular followers of the Asian golf scene. His potential was highlighted during a tremendously successful amateur career, which included wins in the 2000 Malaysian and Indian Amateur Opens, and the individual gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Korea.

Like Kapur, David Howell made an early impact on the professional game, beating a host of top stars to win the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic. His next wins came in the Tour event in Munich and then in two of the most prestigious events in European Tour - the Champions Tournament in Shanghai and the European PGA Championship.

He outscored playing partner Tiger Woods in the final round of the Shanghai event, and the world number one immediately nicknamed his conqueror, the “Cool Dude”. The name has stuck, and it suits the laid-back Howell perfectly. But that nonchalant air hides a steely competitor.

He said: “I’m looking forward to a great season in 2008. I feel fit and strong now and hopefully all the hard work I’ve put in over the past year will start to pay dividends at the Royal Trophy.

“Playing in the first one in 2006 was a wonderful experience, and I will return to Thailand with many happy memories to reflect on. It will be nice to leave with a few more happy memories safely tucked away, with a third European win naturally as the main objective.”