Hero Women’s Indian Open to feature home stars, past winners

Indian stars (from left) Vidhatri Urs, Hitaashee Bakshi, Vani Kapoor and Jasmine Shekar pose with the Hero Women’s Indian Open trophy at the tournamernt’s launch in New Delhi on Tuesday. Image courtesy HWIO.

By Rahul Banerji

Three former recent champions and the top tier from the domestic league will take the field for next month’s Hero Women’s Indian Open at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurgaon.

Defending champion Shannon Tan of Singapore returns for the $500,000 event as do England’s Liz Young (2024 winner) and Germany’s Olivia Cowan (2022).

Also in the fray at one of the elite Ladies European Tour tournaments in Asia will be the home contingent led by Diksha Dagar and fellow LET regulars Pranavi Urs, Avani Praashanth, and Hitaashee Bakshi.

From the domestic Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, rankings leader Ridhima Dilawari, Vani Kapoor — the only two repeat winners of the 2026 season — Jasmine Shekar, Amandeep Drall, Vidhatri Urs and Mannat Brar lead the pack.

The Hero Women’s Indian Open 2026 will be played from October 22 to 25.

Strong showing

The 2025 edition was India’s strongest showing, with four golfers finishing inside the top 10: Hitaashee was third after leading on the final day, followed by Pranavi (fourth), Avani (T5), and Vani (T10).

Diksha ended T41 in 2025 but the consistent left-hander currently in Japan for the Asian Games with Pranavi and Aditi Ashok, remains one of India’s top contenders. 

With two LET titles to her name and a third-place finish in this tournament in 2023, Dagar recently competed in a domestic tour event at DLF to hone her preparations.

Tan won the $500,000 event last year after finishing in a four-way tie in 2024 for second behind Liz Young. 

A year ago, she started the final round five shots off the lead but then proceeded to pull off a stunning win for her third LET title with a final round of 67, one stroke ahead of England’s Alice Hewson.

Quality field

Early entries include three past LET Order of Merit winners – Tan (2025), Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini (2024) and Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab (2023). 

Also in the field are four current season winners – Eleanor Givens of England (VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open), Thai golfer Aunchisa Utama (Dutch Ladies Open), Germany’s Leonie Harm (Amundi German Masters) and Agathe Laisné of France (Joburg Ladies Open and Ford Women’s NSW Open).

Last year’s runner-up Hewson has also shown strong recent form, finishing tied second at the La Sella Open earlier this month.

Amidst this international lineup, the Indian contingent has its eyes on a first title in ten years after Aditi Ashok’s victory in 2016.

Also read: Rookie Heath wins maiden LET title, back nine woes dog Pranavi