Indians make good start in Asian Games golf

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The scenic Pondok Indah GC in Jakarta, venue of the Asian Games golf competition. Image courtesy Golftripz

By Rahul Banerji

Rayhan Thomas and Kshitij Naveed Kaul made strong starts with early sub-par scores while Aadil Bedi and Hari Mohan Singh were level par as the men’s individual golf competition got under way at the Asian Games in Jakarta on Thursday.

Local lad Naraajie Emerald Ramadhan Ptura was the clubhouse leader with a three under 69.

Among the women, Diksha Dagar had completed her round with a one under par 71though Sifat Sagoo (+3) and Ridhima Dilawari (+5) struggled to get to terms with the Pondok Indah Golf Course layout in Jakarta.

The 7,243-yard par 72 layout, designed by Robert Trent-Jones and which hosted the 1983 World Cup of Golf, is known as being fairly forgiving with open fairways and trimmed roughs. Early scores suggested sub-par rounds were likely, but its length has been a test for the amateur field so far.

Thomas, the top ranked amateur golfer in the UAE where he is based had set his sights high when the team was first announced in early May.

Rayhan Thomas, who is leading the Indian challenge in Jakarta. Image courtesy Zimbo

“I have played in Asia Pacific Amateur Championship and Nomura Cup for India earlier but when I tee off in the Asian Games, it will be different feeling for me and the whole family,” he told the New Indian Express.

Thomas, who will join Oklahoma State University in the US next year, added, “I know I will not turn professional before that. So winning a medal in Indonesia will be more than winning a professional tour title.”

Young squad

India have fielded a young side for the Asian Games with Singh being the senior at 24 among the men. The others – Thomas, Kaul, Bedi, Sifat Sagoo and Diksha Dagar are all in their late teens. Ridhima Dilawari is 20.

India have a reasonable record at the Asian Games since golf was first introduced at the 1982 New Delhi Games where they came away with the team (Amit Luthra, Rajov Mohta, Rishi Narain and Laxman Singh) gold and individual gold (Laxman Singh) and silver (Mohta) medals.

At the 2002 Busan Games Shiv Kapur won the individual gold. In both 2006 (Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Chiragh Kumar and Joseph Chakola) and 2010 (Rashid Khan, Rahul Bajaj, Abhijit Chadha and Abhinav Lohan), India came away with the team silver.

Drall in driver’s seat

Amandeep Drall was the early leader at Hyderabad. Image courtesy WPGAI

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, the in-form Amandeep Drall, with three wins in her last four starts, had opened up a three-shot lead in the 12th leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour with an even par 71 with two birdies and two bogeys.

Hero Order of Merit leader Tvesa Malilk, and Sonam Chugh were tied second at 74, while Millie Saroha and Suchitra Ramesh both returned cards of 76 to share third place.

 

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3 Replies to “Indians make good start in Asian Games golf”

  1. Best of luck team India. The start looks good, hope the youngsters deliver. It is a great experience for them at this level, applaud the decision to put young amateurs in the team.

    Rahul, thanks for your daily updates, we enjoy it tremendously.

  2. Almost forgot that Asian Games provide opportunity to golfers. You are right that Indians do well in Asian Games, hope the Indian squad do better this time.

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