Paris Olympics 2024: Former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev backs golfer Aditi Ashok to win a medal
Professional Golf Tour of India’s (PGTI) newly-appointed president, Kapil Dev backed golfer Aditi Ashok to win a medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Aditi stunned everyone at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by finishing fourth.
She was just one stroke shy from bronze medallist Lydia Ko and two strokes from gold medallist Nelly Korda. The Indian golfer was placed second overnight, but a dip in form on the final day saw her settle for a fourth-place finish.
Kapil Dev, who led the Indian cricket team to its first-ever World Cup title in 1983, knows the pressure at the biggest stage and the importance of being in good form. He noted the similarities between cricketers and golfers and believes that Aditi needs to be in a similar form as of Tokyo 2020 to win a medal in Paris.
“I want to see Aditi playing with the same pomp that she played with in the Tokyo Olympics. For cricketers and golfers, form is very important. If Aditi plays in the same form, she has a good chance to win a medal. And if she has a bad week, then she can only sit out and rue the loss,” said Kapil Dev (via PTI).
Aditi Ashok qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 by virtue of Olympic Golf Rankings. She was placed 24th in the rankings and made her way into the Games alongside Diksha Dagar, who was placed 40th.
Paris Olympics 2024 will mark Aditi’s third appearance at the Olympics - the highest by any Indian golfer. Aditi and Diksha will join male golfers Shubankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar in the Indian golf contingent.
“Some of the courses in India have to improve” - PGTI president Kapil Dev aims to develop golf in the country
PGTI president Kapil Dev highlighted the current situation of gold in India and the factors that will help the nation grow.
“In India, there is a catch-22 situation. You have to have good golf courses up to international standards with top tournaments and people playing golf in tougher conditions and scoring well. Some of the courses in India have to improve also and give the players to play in decent courses,” added Kapil.
“I have seen playing 20 under 19 under 18 under but conditions may not be as good as we would like to have. Somebody who has played in DLF Gurgaon or Oxford and hit 15 or 20 under, then you can say that's the different level you have played.”
Kapil then shed light on his vision for the Indian golfing community and how sponsorship will play a key role in the development of the sport.
“My first vision is to bring money to golf and more golf to the players. At the moment, they play 15 or 20 weeks a year; if we can make it 30-35 weeks a year... that's the vision. The only way it can come is if more sponsors come. So I would like more tours and tournaments to take place. I will open the door for many companies and the corporate world to come out and promote golf,” Kapil Dev noted.
He even compared the fee structure of cricket and golf and how he plans to help the golfers in the country.
“Golf is slightly different because every person has to earn his own money. In cricket, the Board decides the fees. Start talking to the corporate world if they can come and organise more golf tournaments. That's the immediate plan. I am not the lone golfer who played the game. I can't say I am the one who will lead it. Yes, I will try and help a lot of golfers in the country and bring more corporates into the game,” the former Indian cricketer concluded.