Know Your Indian Olympian: 10 things to know about Aditi Ashok

Aditi Ashok is going to represent India at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Golf. The sole female competitor in the event from India, she qualified directly among top 60 players for her event based on IGF World Rankings, she ranks 57 as of July 2016. Let us now take a look at 10 facts about the 18-year-old prodigious talent who looks forward to make the country proud by winning at medal at the Games-

1. Aditi Ashok was born on 29th March, 1998 in Bangalore, India. She did her schooling from The Frank Anthony Public School, Bangalore and passed out this year. She started playing golf at the age of 6, and trains and plays at her home club, the Bangalore Golf Club. She also plays at the Karnataka Golf Association.

2. She enjoys art and craft, skating, hula-hopping, watching movies and listening to music in her free time.

3. Aditi was coached by Bamby Randhawa in the initial days of her career, and later by Tarun Sardesai for a few years. She is currently being coached by Steven Giuliano of Malaysia, and her strength and conditioning coach is Nicholas Cabaret of France. She turned professional on 1st January 2016.

4. She made history by becoming the youngest and first Indian player to win the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Aicha Tour School in Morocco at the age of 17 in June 2015.

“It’s an amazing feeling because I came into the tournament obviously wanting to give myself a chance to win but also just wanting to play consistent enough to get a card. Winning it and getting a card is just that much better.”

5. Aditi has the unique distinction of representing India in the Asian Youth Games, Youth Olympic Games and Asian Games. She has been consistent in her performances as a golfer, and has made 11 cuts in 12 professional events she has played in, including a tied 38th finish at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters in 2014.

“I’ve always wanted to be a professional because I just love playing golf. It’s been my dream ever since I was a kid so it’s great to make the first step in getting there. I’m really happy.”

6. She has played with players more experienced than her in both age and in their careers but has given stiff competition to them over the years. She won the WGAI’s Ladies’ Professional Tournament at the age of just 13 years and 5 months, which made people notice her as she was praised by the greats of the game for her age-defying show at the event.

She finished Tied 8th in the LET’s Hero Women’s Indian Open in 2012 at the age of 14 years, which is her best performance in a professional tournament.

7. She has won many accolades in golf events across the country in her career right from the age of 10. She is a three-time National Junior Champion, having earned the title for three consecutive years in 2012, 2013 and 2014. She is also a two-time National Amateur Champion, having won the event in 2011 and 2014.

8. She was inspired to take up the sport after watching Laura Davies and Gwladys Nocera play in the 2007 EMAAR-MGF Ladies Masters in Bangalore as an eight-year-old. She admires Roy McIlroy and Tiger Woods and hopes to emulate them on the world stage.

9. She finished 2015 as World No.11 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), and was the Best Indian Amateur and Best Asian Amateur for the year.

10. Aditi equalled the women’s amateur course record of 8 under par in May 2015, on the New Course, St. Andrews Links. She also set a women’s course record of 8 under par in May 2015 at the Karnataka Golf Association in Bangalore.