Aditi Ashok: Asian Games: Aditi Ashok claims silver in women’s golf

NEW DELHI: Indian golfer Aditi Ashok clinched the silver medal in women’s golf at the Asian Games. The final day of the competition proved to be a challenging one for Ashok, as her fortunes took a tumble, allowing Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol to seize the coveted gold medal. The tournament, held on a picturesque golf course, concluded on Sunday.
Aditi had entered the final day with a commanding seven-stroke lead, raising hopes for an easy victory.However, the day unfolded as a topsy-turvy ordeal for the Indian golfer. She struggled through the round, carding a 77 that included four bogeys and a double bogey, with only one birdie to her name. This roller-coaster performance saw her relinquish the lead and settle for the second position.
Asian Games Day 8
Aditi concluded her campaign with a four-day aggregate score of 17-under 271, a testament to her skill and resilience throughout the tournament. Her Thai counterpart, Arpichaya Yubol, held her nerves on the final day, producing a stellar round of 68 to claim the top spot and the coveted gold medal. South Korea’s Hyunjo Yoo also put up an impressive performance, carding a 65 to secure the bronze medal.

India had two more players in the competition, Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth, who encountered their own struggles on the final day. They posted scores of 75 and 76, respectively, contributing to the Indian women’s team finishing in fourth place overall.

Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing out on the gold, Aditi’s performance was undeniably commendable. The two-time Olympian from Bangalore had narrowly missed a medal at the Tokyo Games, finishing in fourth place. Her silver medal at the Asian Games marked a significant achievement for Indian women’s golf.

This silver medal represented India’s first-ever medal in women’s golf at the Asian Games, adding another milestone to the nation’s golfing history. Previously, India had secured individual gold medals in men’s golf in 1982 and 2002, along with a silver medal in 1982. The Indian golfing squad had also clinched a team gold in 1982 and two team silver medals in 2006 and 2010 at previous editions of the Asian Games.
(With inputs from PTI)