Aditi Ashok, the only Olympic golfer from India in both the 2016 and 2020 games, is once again making headlines as she competes in the Portland Classic just days before the women’s Olympic competition in Paris. She stands out as the only player among the 60 in the Paris Games participating in the Portland Classic. Despite questions from her peers, Ashok chose to play in Portland as she views it as good preparation for the Olympics and enjoys the golf course at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club.
Flying out from Portland to Paris immediately after the finish of the Portland Classic, Ashok will have only a day to prepare for the women’s Olympic competition while adjusting to a nine-hour time-zone difference. However, having played a couple of practice rounds at Le Golf National before last month’s Amundi Evian Championship, she won’t be completely unfamiliar with the Olympic course. Ashok made the decision to schedule her trip this way earlier in the season, anticipating her role as India’s representative at the Olympics.
Ashok’s Olympic journey began in 2016 in Brazil where she was the youngest golfer, male or female, and finished T-41 after an impressive start with a pair of 68s. Her performance sparked interest in golf in India as internet searches for the sport increased. In the 2020 Tokyo Games, Ashok nearly reached the podium with a fourth-place finish, gaining praise from her country’s leaders. She hopes to continue inspiring fans back home as they watch her compete on TV.
Despite concerns about the impact of her travel from Oregon to Paris on her Olympic performance, Ashok remains confident based on past experiences. Following a T-50 in Florida, she won the Andalucia Costa de Espana in Spain after a transatlantic flight last November. Ashok believes in focusing on each tournament separately and is prepared to tackle the challenges of traveling between different time zones during her current tournament run.
Ashok’s resilience is evident as she competes in her fifth consecutive tournament across various time zones, including recent finishes in the Evian and the Dana Open in Ohio. While acknowledging the potential challenges of constant travel, Ashok remains focused on taking each week as it comes and maintaining her performance. She is determined to make the most of her preparations in Portland before heading to Paris for the Olympic competition, ready to represent India on the global stage once again.
