Aditi Ashok (IND) tees off on the fourth hole during the third round of the women’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
The first time Aditi Ashok competed in the Olympics she had just finished her high school exams. Now she’s a seasoned LPGA player who hopes to chase down the No. 1 player in the world in Saturday’s final round – weather permitting.
Ashok, currently No. 200 in the world, walked in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and sits in solo second at 12 under. While Korda overpowers courses, Ashok patiently plods. She does believe, however, that a bout with COVID-19 earlier this year has taken some strength out of her game.
“I was always short,” she said, “but not like 50 behind Nelly and 50 behind Nanna (Koerstz Madsen).”
Perhaps no other player in the field would have a bigger reaction back home than Ashok, should she medal. Her social media following blew up after she got off to a strong start in Rio five years ago.
“I think a lot of people were trying to figure out what golf was,” said Ashok, “so that they could understand how I was playing and if I had a chance to win a medal. I wasn’t in India at the time, and I didn’t go back for about another month, but even then I think for 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. So I think just knowing that in fact that it has kind of motivates me this week, too.”
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