Aditi Ashok in action during the final round of women’s individual golf at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.
In any other tournament, Aditi Ashok would have happily finished fourth, but this was the Olympics and the golfer said it was difficult for her to be happy, even if she had the best performance by an Indian in the showpiece.
A lone second overnight, Aditi finished fourth in the final round at three-under 68, leaving her 15-under 269 overall at the par-71 Kasumigaseki Country Club, where world number one Nelly Korda of the USA took a total of four. Won gold medal with rounds. 17-under 267’s.
“In any other tournament I would be really happy, but it’s hard to be happy with fourth place. I played well and gave my 100 percent,” she said.
The 23-year-old was not particularly happy with her final round show, though it had five birdies against just two bogeys.
“I was just missing so many fairways. The front nine I just hit one and the back nine I think I might have hit three out of four. That was bad today, got me out of position. I didn’t get close Could flag,” he shouted.
But he hopes his stellar performance will spark unprecedented interest in the sport, which is considered elitist.
“I wish I had a medal, but I hope everyone is still happy. Going into the rounds, I didn’t think too much about it (people are watching her on TV),” she said.
She said, “Just having more top finishes, even if it’s not really a podium finish, will probably support the game more, (more) kids will pick it up. That helps build the game.”
Golf returned to the Olympics in 2016 after a hiatus of 100 years and Aditi participated in that edition, finishing 41st.
“Obviously, when I started golf, I never dreamed of participating in the Olympics. Golf wasn’t even an Olympic sport.
“You just pick it up, work hard and have fun every day. And then sometimes you get here,” she said.
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