From a Correspondent
Singapore, March 8: Queen Sirikit Cup title-holder Avani Prashanth, already world-ranked 77th, is keen to get better and better and maybe even break into the top 10.
The 16-year-old from Bangalore knows that the prestigious Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship could be the big stage. After winning Sirikit Cup individual honours, she has her sights on top spot at the WAAP.
Last year, Avani came into the event with a fever and missed the cut. She wants to put that behind her.
“I was very disappointed but I felt sick on the first day so I had no chance of competing because I wasn’t at my best,” she said on tournament eve.
“And then coming in from last week puts me in a very positive mindset and that’s what I’m planning on carrying on into this week.”
Avani’s teammates are US-based Anika Varma, Nishna Patel, Mannat Brar, Vidhatri Urs, and Lavanya Jadon.
Experienced squad
Anika, Avani and Nishna are all making their third trips to the WAAP and Mannat is here for the second time.
Anika, whose ninth place at the 2021 event in Abu Dhabi, is the best by an Indian at the WAAP, missed the event last year.
After practice, Avani told the media, “It’s a very, very nice course. I love the greens. I love the layout, so it’s going to be a fun week.
“I think the main test is the walk because it’s going to be a lot of pushing the trolley uphill and downhill. If I manage that, I think I’ve got the course. I’ve made a pretty good plan and, yeah, I’m excited for the week.”
Chinese Taipei’s Ting-Hsuan Huang is the defending champion.
The 18-year-old won the title in sensational fashion last year at Siam Country Club in Thailand, when she mounted a late charge and made six birdies in her last 11 holes on Sunday.
Big ticket
That got her exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open, the Amundi Evian Championship and Chevron Championship – as well as an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The calm and composed Huang said: “This week, I am just going to enjoy playing with my partners and just have fun.
“The challenge for us is that we have to push our own trolleys and the golf course is very hilly. I just want to stay hydrated and not get impatient.”
Korea’s Minsol Kim, the world number 15, finished sixth in the Queen Sirikit Cup. She will not be short of motivation after watching her idol and mentor Jin Young Ko win the HSBC Women’s Championship a few miles down the road last week.
“We shared a room in Vietnam where the Korean national team was doing its winter training, and I asked her a lot of questions,” Minsol said.
“Not only am I personally close to her, she’s also someone I really respect and admire.
Inspiration
“She is one of the top players in the world, but it’s her hard work and her attitude towards golf that is inspirational for me,” said Kim, who had a top ten finish at the LPGA’s BMW Ladies Championship last year.
“She makes me want to practice harder and focus more on my game. I watched her win last week in Singapore and since I know how much she was struggling (with an injury last year), I was also crying with her.”
Avani plays her first round at 8.36 am with Kim and world number four Rin Yoshida of Japan.
Also read: Avani gives India maiden Queen Sirikit Cup win, with a record
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