By Rahul Banerji
Imagine being 20, and being handed an opportunity to play out your most heartfelt dream. Little wonder, therefore, Diksha Dagar is floating her way around Tokyo and the Olympic Games.
Fate also plays a part in setting up such scenarios.
The sequence of events that led Diksha to Tokyo are about as unlikely as they come and involved a late positive Covid test, a withdrawal and some desperate scrambling by her father Narinder and coach Sundeep Verma.
The lanky left-hander herself flew straight into Tokyo via London from Northern Ireland, where she played the first two rounds of the ISPS Handa World Invitational that involved both women and men professionals.
“I screamed Yes, Yes, Yes, and then I cried,” Diksha said at a media interaction on Tokyo on Tuesday, about her reaction to the Tokyo Games entry. “It has been my dream to play the Olympics.”
The 20-year-old is something of a multi-disciplinary event veteran having played the 2017 Deaf Olympics (silver medal) and the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. She was virtually the final entrant in the Tokyo Games women’s golf competition.
Excerpts: On being in Tokyo
It’s an honour and a privilege. You are playing for your nation and you feel so proud. I feel so happy and I am an Olympian.
Her reaction to the call-up
I got to know through my dad, He called on the phone and he said you have got this call for the Olympics. My reaction was like, ‘what, really?’
I couldn’t believe it. Then I asked him again, ‘are you sure, are you hundred per cent sure?’ When he confirmed, I just screamed Yes, Yes, and got a little emotional because it has been my dream to play the Olympics.
On reaching Japan
In these Covid times it can be challenging but luckily we had a very good team helping us.
Also, the Indian Golf Union and Ladies European Tour supported and guided me very well on how to proceed and how it had to be done.
On the course
This course (Kasumigaseki CC) plays very long and the roughs are very thick. Also, some of the fairways are very narrow so you have to stay on the fairway and try to keep the ball straight.
On the Village experience
It is amazing. When I walked into the Games Village I was looking at all these sportspersons and it was a great feeling that yes, I am one of them.
It was really cool to see them. It’s a very good experience for me and a first time to see how people are in the village, carrying around big heavy speakers, dancing…
It gives me that kind of vibe that I want to work hard more and do better.
On having Dad on the bag
I am very fortunate that my father is by my side. It feels so great because there are times you wish your parents should see some special moments, so I am very lucky to have him here.
Also read: Oly Update: Diksha Dagar heads for Tokyo as a late, late inclusion
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