India aims for 1st Olympic golf medal in Tokyo

India aims for 1st Olympic golf medal in Tokyo

With the golf event at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 starting tomorrow, India's dreams of winning a medal in golf are gaining traction.

Three talented Indian golfers, Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane in the Men's part, and Aditi Ashok in the Women's section, are all set to begin their Olympic journey with the goal of winning a medal for their country.

Before departing for Tokyo, the trio revealed their emotions, saying that "winning a medal is their main goal in the Olympics."

Indian golfers are competing in their second Olympics, the first being in Rio in 2016.

2016 - Rio Olympics

The two golfers from India, SSP Chawrasia and Anirban Lahiri, got the chance to represent their country in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Both, however, performed terribly in the event, finishing t-50th and t-57th, respectively.

Aditi Ashok, the lone female golfer; representing India in the 2016 summer games, started her campaign with a mesmerizing 6-under 136 and claimed the tied-7th place after the end of the midway stage, but, in the next two rounds, she failed to maintain her form and finished the prestigious event at the tied-41st position. 

2020 - Tokyo Olympics

This time also three Indian golfers will represent India’s golf contingent at the Olympics.

Anirban Lahiri and Udayan Mane have secured their berths in Men’s top-60, while Aditi Ashok grabbed a place in the Women’s circle.

Anirban and Aditi have qualified for the Olympics for the second time in a row, while Udayan, a promising Indian golfer, is ready to compete in his first Olympics.

The 34-year-old Indian Anirban was the first one among three to qualify after claiming the 60tth position in the list of top-60 golfers. Easy qualification for Aditi Ashok comes in the form of 45th rank among top-60 golfers worldwide to qualify.

While Udayan's qualification was a combination of luck and hard work, he was able to secure a spot after Argentina's Emiliano Grillo withdrew, as Mane was the first reserve player behind Grillo.

The men's Olympic golf competition will take place at Kasumigaseki Country Club from July 29 to August 2, while the women's competition will commence a week later, from August 4 to 7. It will be a four-round 72-hole affair with no cuts for the starters.