THE RISE OF WOMEN’S GOLF IN INDIA

by Brig Balwinder Singh Sandhu (Retd.)

Golf is a fast-emerging sport somewhere behind cricket, badminton, field hockey, football and tennis in India, a Nation of more than 1.3 billion people. Its popularity is likely to change soon, thanks to players like Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, Anirban Lahiri and Shubhankar Sharma. Anirban Lahiri being the only Indian who had full status on the PGA Tour and is presently a hot cake on the LIV Tour.
Arjun Atwal till date happens to be the only Indian winner on the PGA Tour, with his victory at the 2010 Wyndham Championship.
Contrary to this if we dive deep into last three odd decades, the image of a woman golfer in India was a rare sight. Those days Indian society held a conservative and a traditional view about women, relegating the greens to the men. Now the times are changing and with them, the landscape of Indian women golf too is changing, one swing at a time. This revolution is fueled by passion, perseverance, and the unwavering spirit of a new generation of Indian women golfers who are audacious and are creating waves with their swings inspiring yet another wave of young girls to pursue golf as a sport.

The trailblazer of this change has been none other than Simi Mehra. Undeterred by societal norms, Simi carved her name in golfing history. She won numerous amateur tournaments throughout Asia before turning professional and becoming the first Indian player to graduate onto the LPGA. Her dedication and success on the golf course changed the perception of golf being a man’s game. Simi Mehra has not been just a golfer; she has been a pioneer, a role model who planted the seed of possibility for countless young girls across the country. Following Simi’s footsteps came Sharmila Nicollet, a golfer who brought not only talent and athleticism but also a touch of glamour to the sport. Sharmila’s success on the domestic and the International circuit further propelled women’s
golf into the spotlight.

The rising duo of Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar has further marked a significant turning point. These young women, with their fearless attitude and undeniable talent, have taken Indian women’s golf to the global stage wherein we get to see six to eight Indian women golfers playing on the international tours. Aditi Ashok has emerged as a leading figure in Indian women’s golf, carving a path for future generations. Despite entering the professional arena at an early age, she has achieved remarkable success. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first Indian woman golfer to break into the top fifty world rankings. Her exceptional skills transitioned seamlessly into the professional realm. She has participated in two Olympic Games – 2016 and 2021 – with her sights firmly set on a medal in the upcoming Paris 2024 Games. At Tokyo her near-podium finish left an indelible impression, captivating the nation’s attention. She once again exhibited her golfing prowess by winning the women’s individual golf silver medal at the Asian Games. Diksha Dagar, once a prodigious amateur, has won twice on the Ladies European Tour. At the Deaflympics (Olympics for the Deaf), she went onto win a gold medal in 2021 after taking a silver in 2017. In 2021 she participated in the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first-ever golfer to compete at both Deaflympics and the main Olympic Games. Currently she is set to get to her second Olympics in Paris.

The rise of Indian women’s golf is not just about a few stars. Promising young players like Pranavi, Avani, Bakshi sisters and many more are eager to make their mark internationally. Even younger talents like Ojaswini and Amaira are dominating junior events, highlighting a deep well of future champions. Passion driven young golfers duly supported by organisations like the Indian Golf Union, corporate houses and government ministries are striving to become celebrated champions at major tournaments and international tours. There’s is a story of dedication, meeting talent, fueled by inspiration. With the consistently incremental progress, the future of Indian women’s golf is not just promising, it is a dazzling display of potential waiting to erupt on the world stage.

#girlpower #womengolf #golf #wgai #golfers #let #lpga #igu