Oly Update: Diksha Dagar heads for Tokyo as a late, late inclusion

By Rahul Banerji

From Galgorn Castle near Belfast in Northern Ireland to the Tokyo suburb of Saitama is quite a journey, but when the Olympics call, it becomes one worth undertaking.

So it shall be for Diksha Dagar, currently participating in the ISPS Handa World Invitational and recipient of a late summons thanks to one withdrawal and one refusal.

The lanky left-hander, a silver medallist at the 2017 Deal Olympics, will be hoping to clear Covid restrictions in time to tee off alongside Aditi Ashok at the Games’ women’s golf event on August 4.

The windfall entry for Diksha, a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, came when South Africa’s Paula Reto withdrew.

Next-in-line Austria decided not to make a reallocation for its golfer Sarah Schober as per the International Golf Federation’s reserve list.

Diksha, among the reserves when the list was finalised earlier in the month, was informed of her Olympic qualification by the Indian Golf Union on Wednesday.

Tweeted the IGU: “BREAKING NEWS Paula Reto (RSA) has withdrawn frm Tokyo & Austria declined reallocation for Sarah Schober; position has been reallocated by IGF to our Diksha Dagar. Best wishes to her.”

“Rest assured, we will spare no effort to get her to Tokyo. Let us all hope for the best. Jai Hind,” the IGU said in another post.

Full hand

With Aditi Ashok making the field of 60 on the basis of her ranking earlier, India will have a full complement in the women’s event just as they do in the ongoing men’s competition.

According to PTI, the IGU has begun making arrangements for Diksha to reach Tokyo in time for the Games while, the Indian Olympic Association also has started the formalities for the accreditation and travel.

Diksha represented India at the 2018 Asian Games. She then turned professional in 2019 and has since won twice on the LET, one of them a team event earlier this season.

While Diksha herself may not have to face a quarantine issue, her father and coach, Narinder, who is also often her caddie, has just returned to India and may struggle to complete the stringent formalities mandated by the host nation.

The former Armyman will need all the help he can get from the IGU and IOA to reach in time to be on Diksha’s bag at the Kasumigaseki Country Club.

The 20-year-old incidentally was in the IGF’s top-60 list when the Olympics were originally slated in July 2020 before being postponed due to the pandemic.

On Thursday, the clearly distracted Diksha carded a 5-over 77 in the opening round of the ISPS Handa World Invitational at Galgorn Castle Golf Club.

Also read: Lahiri, Aditi head for Tokyo Olympics with form in the pocket