Japan β With back-to-back rounds of 68 at Olympic Golf Club in Rio, Aditi Ashokβs life was changed forever.
Aditi Ashok returns to Tokyo to gift India
Although the then-18-year-old would go on to tie for 41st at the 2016 Olympics those rounds, and her place among the gameβs best players on the biggest stage, made womenβs golf a headline sport in India.
A lot of people were trying to figure out what golf was, so that they could understand how I was playing and if I had a chance to win a medal,β
Ashok said Wednesday at Kasumigaseki Country Club. βFor the next six months to a year everybody remembered and recognized me from the Olympics. Even though I had won like three European Tour events after that, people still remembered me as the girl who did well at the Olympics.β
Highlights from Ashok’s opening 67 in Tokyo
She is back doing well at another Olympics following a first-round 67 that left her tied for second place and a shot off the lead. This time, however, the attention that is sure to come wonβt be a surprise.
“I didn’t finish as well as I wanted to last time, but just seeing the effect that it had on golf in India was inspiring and that’s kind of what motivated me for this one as well.”
Ashok recalled how she started playing golf, not a common pursuit for girls growing up in Bangalore like her.
“Me and my parents started playing golf at the same time,” recalled Ashok.
“We used to have breakfast at this restaurant that overlooked a golf driving range and so we wanted to walk in and try it out. So that’s what got me started.”
Ashok had her dad as caddie in Rio, and this time round it is her mum, Mash.
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