Shubhankar, Anirban and Aditi are the top ranked Indians on the international front
Anirban Lahiri, Shubhankar Sharma and Aditi Ashok have been exempted from Asian Games trials scheduled for April 24-27 at RCGC in Kolkata.
A total of 53 golfers – 28 men and 25 women have been invited for the trials, from which one male and two female qualifiers will qualify to join the Indian team from Sep.28-Oct.1 at West Lake Golf Course in Hangzhou, China.
Some of the top players invited for the trials include –
Men – 18 pros & 10 amateurs
Shiv Kapur (Individual Gold – 2010)
Gaganjeet Bhullar (Team Silver – 2006)
Rashid Khan (Team Silver -2010)
Yuvraj Singh Sandhu – 5-time winner on the PGTI in 2022
SSP Chawrasia – Winner on the Asian & the European Tour
Women – 15 pros & 10 amateurs
Diksha Dagar – Winner on LET, represented India at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta
Vani Kapoor – A record 30 wins on the Hero WPGT
Amandeep Drall – 10+ wins on the Hero WPGT
Ridhima Dilawari – Multiple wins on the Hero WPGT, represented India at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta
Avani Prashanth – 16 year old winner of the prestigious Queen Sirikit cup in February.
When the Asian Games was scheduled for 2022, trials were played at KGA in Bangalore last June and Avani Prashanth won the one spot up for grabs on the ladies team while Rashid Khan and Viraj Madappa, qualified for the Men’s team. However with the Asian Games getting postponed due to Covid, the trials are being held afresh.
Last year also the selection committee automatically selected India’s leading players on international tours – Anirban Lahiri & Shubhankar Sharma for the men and Aditi Ashok and Tvesa Malik for the women. While the other three players have continued or strengthened their form, Tvesa had a disappointing 2022 and will have to fight her way back onto the team.