Pranavi Urs and Saptak Talwar led India’s challenge on the opening day of the Asian Games golf competition, producing matching four-under 66s at Kasugai Country Club’s East Course in Aichi-Nagoya.
Pranavi occupied sole second place in the women’s individual event, three strokes behind Singapore’s Shannon Tan, while Talwar shared third in the men’s competition, one behind co-leaders Kazuki Higa of Japan and Chinese Taipei’s Wei-hsuan Wang.
Competing in her second Asian Games, Pranavi recovered strongly after an early bogey. Starting from the 10th, the Hero-backed golfer made three birdies between the 12th and 15th before adding two more at the fifth and eighth.
Tan established the early benchmark with a seven-under 63 featuring nine birdies and two bogeys.
Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar opened with matching one-over 71s to share 18th place. Aditi’s eventful round contained five birdies and two triple bogeys, while Diksha mixed two birdies with three dropped shots.
With the best two scores counting each day, India finished at three-under and shared sixth place in the women’s team event. Singapore led at eight-under, four ahead of Korea, China and Chinese Taipei.
Talwar, making his Asian Games debut, recorded five birdies and one bogey to share third with Japan’s Keita Nakajima, Korea’s Doyeob Mun and China’s Yunhe Zheng.
“I felt like I should have been lower over the first 12 holes,” Talwar said. “I was hitting it well and putting well, but kept over-reading some putts. I’m pleased that I did not drop anything coming in and I’m still in the run for the next few days.”
The current DP World PGTI Order of Merit leader felt the tight layout could suit the Indian players.
“It is obviously penal if you hit it wild, but small misses are not too costly, which I think the Indians would like,” he said.
Yuvraj Sandhu and Veer Ahlawat returned one-over 71s to share 23rd place. Sandhu, arriving directly from a tied-13th finish at the FedEx Open de France, hit 16 greens but was hurt by four three-putts.
Ahlawat’s round included an eagle, three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.
India shared fifth place in the men’s team competition at three-under, six strokes behind host nation Japan.
Higa and Wang set the individual pace with five-under 65s. Wang remained bogey-free and highlighted his round by holing out for eagle at the par-four fifth.
With three rounds remaining, Pranavi and Talwar are firmly positioned in the individual medal race, while both Indian teams remain within striking distance.
Photo – LET
