India’s top-ranked female golfer is currently tied for second place at four-under 67, one shot off the lead. But she has already made waves back home.
Aditi Ashok,23, might not be a household name or winner on the LPGA Tour quite yet. But back home in India, she’s a top-ranked woman golfer, two-time Olympian and current second-place holder in Tokyo. In her first round of the women’s golf tournament at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, No.200-ranked Ashok maintained poise and consistency similar to that of No.1-ranked Nelly Korda. After firing a four-under 67, one shot off the lead, Ashok found herself tied for second place with Korda heading into Thursday’s second round at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Five years ago, Ashok teed it up in Rio at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. At the time, the only woman golfer representing India had no idea what type of impact her presence at the Games would have back home in India. Flash forward to today, she knows that competing at the women’s golf event in Tokyo means more than just garnering more social media followers and socialising in the Olympic Village — it means changing the golf game in India. Here we go, again In 2016, the then 18-year-old Ashok shot back-to-back opening rounds of 68 at the Olympic Golf Club in Rio. For the first time in 112 years, golf returned to the Olympics and the teenager Ashok was making history as the youngest golfer, man or woman, in Rio. As the only woman representing Team India in golf, Ashok quickly became an overnight sensation in her home country. She went on to tie for 41st in Rio. After her first appearance in the Olympics, Ashok joined the LPGA Tour in 2017. This year, Ashok returned to the Games with new goals in mind. But her motivation remains the same. « Last time, I was a rookie basically, » Ashok said. « I just finished my high school exams and then I was at the Olympics in two months. But this time, I think definitely a lot more experience, just playing on the LPGA [Tour] the last five years has been kind of, makes you way better as a player than I was at Rio. « I didn’t finish as well as I wanted to last time, but just seeing the effect that it had on golf in India was inspiring and that’s kind of what motivated me for this one as well. » During her first round in Tokyo on Wednesday, Ashok looked more confident than ever before. Everything seemed to flow. It was her second Olympics. She has been here before, but this time still felt different. She was no longer alone, this year joined by India’s Diksha Dagar. And this time, she wasn’t just going out there to play and represent her country. She was going out there to medal for India. « Last time I think it was more just enjoying the experience and staying at the village, seeing all the other athletes, but this time I think definitely here to have a good finish, hopefully give my best, try and win a medal.
