Hangzhou, China, 29-09-2023

Aditi stays tied second, women’s team third; Lahiri ninth in men’s section at Asian Games, men’s team in tied sixth

By V Krishnaswamy

Aditi Ashok stayed in contention for an individual medal as she was just one shot behind the leader at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. In the process, she also kept the Indian women’s team in the race for another medal at the West Lake International course.

Aditi (67-66) was tied second and one behind Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol (67-65). The Indian women’s team is lying third behind China and Thailand. India has never won an Asian Games medal in the women's section.

Of other two Indian women golfers Pranavi Urs added a fine 68 to her first round 71 to improve to T-10 at 5-under, while amateur Avani Prashanth (72-69) was T-15. The Indian women are currently lying third.

Things did not go as well for the men, as Anirban Lahiri (65-67) was still tied ninth, while Shubhankar Sharma (68-65) rose one places to T-21. SSP Chawrasia (67-72) slipped 10 places to T-19 alongside Khalin Joshi (70-69) who rose two places.

The men are placed tied sixth in the team standings, which is led by Korea, followed by Hong Kong and Japan.

The fourth-place finisher at the Tokyo Olympics, Aditi improved upon her first round 67 by one shot to add a 66, that included five birdies, an eagle on a Par-4 and just one bogey.

Aditi’s fine round of 66 also took India up into the third place, behind the favourites China (21-under) and Thailand (20-under). The Indian team is at 16-under.

Each day, the top two scores from each team are counted towards team scores and for India, both days the counting scores have come from Aditi and Pranavi.

In the men’s team standings, India is tied fifth but are 18 shots behind firm favourites Korea, who are fielding two PGA Tour players, Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim. Korea is way ahead at 45-under. Interestingly, Korea’s two amateur players Jang Yubin (lying second) and Cho Wooyung (lying tied third) have outdone their better-known professional colleagues.

The Hong Kong men’s team, spearheaded by the amazing 22-year-old Taichi Kho (62-60), at 38-under is second but seven behind Korea. Japan (35-under) and Thailand (31-under) are third and fourth, while India (27-under) is a distant sixth.

In the men’s individual section, Taichi Kho at 22-under leads by six shots and the first-round leader, Jang Yubin (61-67) at 18-under is four behind. Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (67-63) was third at 16-under. Lahiri is the best Indian at 12-under.

Lahiri had six birdies against just one bogey, but that did not seem enough as he slipped slightly on a course, which has been yielding low scores.