Indian golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar are set to embark on their Olympic journeys in Paris, carrying the hopes of their nation. Aditi, a two-time Olympian, narrowly missed out on a medal in Tokyo, finishing fourth. Determined to make amends, she will be eager to secure a podium finish this time.
Diksha, on the other hand, has overcome a traumatic car accident that left her mother hospitalized. Despite the setback, the 23-year-old has remained resilient and is focused on achieving Olympic success.
The women’s golf competition in Paris will feature a quarter of the field who have competed in all three Games since the sport’s return in 2016. Aditi and Diksha are among the experienced players, with Aditi making her third appearance and Diksha her second.
Aditi will tee off alongside Gaby Lopez (Mexico) and Esther Henseleit (Germany), while Diksha will play with Wei-Ling Hsu (Chinese Taipei) and Emma Spitz (Austria). The competition runs from Wednesday to Saturday.
Aditi has enjoyed success on the Ladies European Tour, winning five times, but is yet to claim a victory on the LPGA. Her breakthrough moment came in 2021 when she came within a whisker of an Olympic medal. Despite missing out, she received widespread recognition and appreciation.
Diksha is a unique athlete who has competed in both the Deaflympics and the Olympics. A double medallist in the Deaflympics, she qualified for Tokyo at the last minute. This time, her consistent performances earned her a place months in advance.
In Paris, Diksha faced an unexpected scare when the car she was traveling in with her family was involved in an accident. While she and her father were uninjured, her brother sustained minor injuries and her mother suffered a back injury. However, her mother is now recovering.
Aditi is coming off a tie for 22nd at the LPGA Tour’s Portland Classic. She has played four weeks in a row and is looking to maintain her momentum in Paris.
The women’s golf field in Paris is highly competitive, with 12 of the top 15 players participating. Six players who have reached World No. 1 are among the contenders, including Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Atthaya Thitikul, Lilia Vu, and Ruoning Yin.
Minjee Lee of Australia will be making her third Olympic appearance, following her brother Min Woo’s debut in the men’s competition. The Lees are the only brother-sister combination in the Olympic golf fields.
Celine Boutier is one of two French players competing in the women’s golf competition, along with Perrine Delacour. Boutier had a stellar season in 2023, winning four times, including the Amundi Evian Championship in her home country.
