NEW DELHI: Indian golfer Aditi Ashok, a medal hopeful at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, faces a challenging decision regarding her caddie as she prepares to compete in a star-studded women's golf field. The 25-year-old golfer narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing in fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics, with her vibrant mother, Maheshwari, affectionately known as "Mash," serving as her caddie.
Reflecting on her experience at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Ashok shared, "Tokyo 2020 was a great experience, and having my mum caddie for me was a fun experience."
Aditi Ashok's parents, Mash and Gudlamani, have taken turns carrying her golf bag since she was seven years old. They were by her side in 2016 when she first gained attention by winning the Women's Indian Open. At the age of 16, she was the youngest player at the Rio Olympics in the same year, with her dad serving as her caddie.
Her impressive performance in Tokyo, where she held the silver-medal position for the first three rounds before narrowly missing the podium, played a significant role in putting women's golf on India's sporting map.
Despite the disappointment in Tokyo, Ashok remains level-headed and focused on her approach to the sport. She emphasized, "My mindset has always been to focus on the process more than the outcome. I always give my best and move on to the next event. And I keep doing the same week after week."
In the current season, Ashok achieved a career milestone by breaking into the world's top 50 after securing her fourth European Tour win in Kenya in February. She described this season as a high point, highlighting her consistent performance on both the US LPGA and Ladies European Tours.
Regarding her parents' roles as caddies, Ashok explained, "My dad and I tend to have more discussions about (how to play) a shot as he knows my game well enough to help. My mum doesn't help as much with the decision-making (on the course), but I feel that helps too as I am more decisive and calmer while playing with her on my bag."
Aditi Ashok, who first picked up a golf club at the age of five in Bengaluru, where she grew up, leads a three-member women's golf team at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. She did not disclose whether her mother or father would serve as her caddie for the event, stating, "I'm excited to play the Asian Games in China and going about my practice and preparation to do my best. I don't want to go with any expectations because it doesn't usually help."
Ashok's Olympic achievements have brought attention to women's golf in India, a sport that was relatively unknown in the country before her success. She expressed her happiness that golf now receives the media attention it deserves in a country dominated by cricket, and she hopes that the sport will continue to grow, both for men and women playing professionally.
(With AFP inputs)
