India’s Aditi Ashok in contention for Tokyo Olympics golf medal at halfway stage

India’s Aditi Ashok stayed in tied-second position and in the race for a medal after the second round of the Tokyo Olympics women’s golf tournament at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Aditi Ashok carded five-under 66, that included birdies in three of the last five holes, for the day to take her total to nine-under 133 (67, 66). Aditi Ashok has bogeyed just once so far in Tokyo, on the 18th hole of the opening round.

“The last three holes, I had a couple of shots that were just a good number for me and I hadn't really had any short approaches all day, maybe just a couple,” said Aditi, ranked 200th in the world.

The reigning women’s PGA Championships winner Nelly Korda of the USA carded a solid nine-under 62 to take the lead of the field by four shots. Her overall score is 13-under 129 (67, 62).

Two-time Olympian Aditi Ashok, who has her mother as the caddie at Tokyo 2020, carded five birdies in all in the second round. As she did in Rio 2016, the Indian golfer briefly led the field too.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, however, Aditi Ashok eventually finished 41st after a challenging outing in the third and the fourth rounds.

Moreover, the women’s golf tournament at Tokyo 2020 may be reduced to a 54-hole competition (from 72) due to thunderstorms predicted over the weekend. Aditi Ashok, however, is unfazed.

“This whole week there's going to be so many girls making birdies, especially because the weather's warm and the conditions are favourable,” Aditi said. “I think whatever holes I get to play, whether it's 54 or 72, I'm not really going to sit on anything, I'm just going to try and be as aggressive and make more birdies.”

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Diksha Dagar carded a one-over 72 in the second round to finish with a total score of six-over 148 (76, 72) and was placed tied-53 in the 60-woman field. As a result, the Olympic debutant jumped up three places from the first round.