India’s golf campaign at the Olympics will commence on August 1, with Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shubhankar Sharma teeing off in the men’s golf event. Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar will begin their rounds at Le Golf National on August 7. This quartet is considered perhaps the strongest India has ever sent to the Olympics, and there are high expectations for their performance. While Aditi and Diksha bring Olympic experience, with Aditi notably finishing fourth in Tokyo, Shubhankar and Gaganjeet will be making their Olympic debuts.
With the women’s event still a week away, the focus is currently on the two men representing India on the golf fairways in the suburbs of Paris.
Can we expect a surprise like Aditi’s performance?
Perhaps. Golf is a sport heavily influenced by day-to-day performance, making rankings potentially misleading. This is how Aditi Ashok, then ranked WR200, stunned the field in the opening rounds in Tokyo. India will be hoping that Shubhankar Sharma, ranked 177, and Gaganjeet Bhullar, ranked 301, can achieve similar feats. However, it’s a tall order for two Olympic debutants, despite the potentially easier competition at the Olympics.
Is the Olympics competition easier?
Rory McIlroy, world No. 3, commented to the BBC on the nature of the Olympics: “It’s hard to say [whether the Olympics will become like a major], as even this week, the way the qualification system works, not all the best players in the world are here.”
The Majors in golf (akin to Grand Slams in tennis) still hold the most prestige. With the Olympics limiting participation to two golfers per country (or four if they are within the top 15), the field is significantly reduced. Consequently, Shubhankar, ranked 219 in the world when Olympic qualifications ended, is ranked 46th in the 60-strong Olympic field, while Gaganjeet is ranked 51st.
