From Left to Right: Golfers Seher Atwal, Jahanvi Bakshi, Hitaashee Bakshi, Gaurika Bishnoi, Ridhima Dilawari with the Hero Women’s Indian Open trophy
The Hero Women’s Indian Open, a Ladies European Tour (LET) event, is back since its last edition in 2019. The tournament will be played from Oct. 20-23 at DLF Golf & CC in Gurgaon.
The event, which could not be held in 2020 and 2021 because of the Coronavirus pandemic, returns with one of the strongest fields in its history.
At least five past champions have already sent in their entries and more are likely to come through. Additionally, a host of winners in the 2021 and 2022 seasons have entered the event, which is expected to see participation of 114 golfers from as many as 20 countries from around the world.
The field also includes Aditi Ashok, India’s first and only Hero Women’s Indian Open winner, who has been playing for the past 6 years on the LPGA Tour in USA. Aditi represented India with great distinction at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where she lost out on a medal by a solitary stroke.
The US$400,000 event comes at the end of the season and offers a chance to many players to secure their playing status for 2023 or improve their ranking and qualify for the big season ending events.
All the top Indians led by Aditi have confirmed their participation. The line-up includes Tvesa Malik, who was 19th on the 2021 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit ; Diksha Dagar, the 2019 South African Open Champion who also played in Tokyo, Amandeep Drall and Vani Kapoor. Other prominent Indian names expected in action are Ridhima Dilawari, Gaurika Bishnoi and Neha Tripathi.
Dr Pawan Munjal, Chairman & CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said “The Hero Women’s Indian Open, a flagship event in Asia, is one of the biggest & most popular golf tournaments in the region. We are delighted to be back, and I am pleased to know that some of the most talented names on the Tour will be here in India. Our Indian women golfers are making rapid strides with some great performances in the International Tours. This will be one of the most exciting editions of Hero Women’s Indian Open. I would like to thank the Ladies European Tour and the Women’s Golf Association of India for their continued support to the event.”
Among the former Champions who have sent in their early entries is the defending Champion from 2019, Christine Wolf; 2018 winner Becky Morgan; 2017 winner Camille Chevalier; 2016 Champion Aditi Ashok and 2011 winner Caroline Hedwall.
The field is replete with winners from the 2022 season, including one of the most successful stars, Linn Grant, who has won four times on the Ladies European Tour and three times on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa.
Other winners of 2022 include Anne Charlotte Mora (Aaland 100 Ladies Open 2022), Tiia Kovisto (Jabra Ladies Open), Ana Pelaez (Madrid Ladies Open) and Meghan Maclaren (Australian Ladies Classic – Bonville).
Indian women’s golf, which has been on an upswing over the past few years, has seen the rise of young stars like Pranavi Urs, who has won five times in 12 domestic events, and other names such as Hitaashee Bakshi, Jahnavi Bakshi, Seher Atwal and Sneha Singh will keep the home fans enthralled.
Mrs. Kavita Singh, President of the Women’s Golf Association of India said “It is indeed gratifying that we stand today at the threshold of staging yet another edition of the Hero Women’s Indian Open. With the challenges that the world has faced over the past two and a half years, it is indeed a relief to see that the worst is behind us. The WGAI is looking forward to welcoming the players and officials from the LET once again. The world today is a different place from the one in 2019 when Christine Wolf took home the trophy, and the strength of Indian women’s professional golf has increased exponentially during this intervening period. I am sure that our Indian players are going to be strong contenders at the tournament, and we cannot wait to see the competition unfold. On behalf of the WGAI, a big thank you to Hero MotoCorp and Dr Pawan Munjal for standing by us through this difficult time.”
Alexandra Armas, CEO, Ladies European Tour said: “The LET is a proud partner of the Hero Women’s Indian Open and our players are delighted to be returning to play in the competition at the fabulous DLF Golf and Country Club for the first time since 2019. It is hugely important to us to have this iconic tournament up and running again. As well as providing a first-class competitive opportunity for all international players, it enables Indian players to test themselves against the best on Tour and helps to inspire the next generation to develop their passion. I would like to thank Dr Pawan Munjal, Mrs. Kavita Singh and Mrs. Champika Sayal, as well as Mr. Karan Bindra and the entire staff at DLF, for their continued support.”
The Hero Women’s Indian Open was first held in 2007 and since 2010 it has been a part of the Ladies European Tour sponsored by Hero MotoCorp.