‘Olympian Lahiri sounds good, but Olympic medallist Lahiri would sound way better’

Three leading professional golfers of the country — Anirban Lahiri, S.S.P. Chawrasia and woman golfer Aditi Ashok — were thrilled after qualifying for the Rio Olympics, for which the cut-off date was Monday. “Olympian Anirban Lahiri sounds good, but Olympic medallist Anirban Lahiri would sound way better,” said Lahiri, who won a team silver medal in the 2006 Asian Games.

Lahiri’s good friend Chawrasia was equally excited on getting the rare chance of representing the country at the highest level.

“I am excited about having the honour to represent my country at the Olympics. It’s a major milestone for me. I am looking forward to teaming up with my good friend Anirban in Rio. My total focus for the next three weeks is to practice and prepare for the Olympics as I want to give it my best shot,” said Chawrasia, who was not sure whether he would play the Asian Tour event in Thailand in the last week of this month.

“So happy to make it,” tweeted Aditi, a full member of the Ladies European Tour.

Current Asia No. 1 Lahiri (world ranking 62) and reigning Indian Open champion Chawrasia (world ranking 207) were placed 20th and 45th respectively in the latest International Golf Federation (IGF) qualification list updated late on Monday.

Lahiri, a winner of seven international titles, had a fine 2015 during which he earned two European Tour wins and a tied-fifth place in the prestigious PGA Championship. The 29-year-old Bengaluru-based golfer’s PGA performance was the best by an Indian in a Major till date.

Lahiri, who made history by becoming the first Indian to be a part of the International Team at the Presidents Cup, is competing on the PGA Tour this season and was among the top-50 in the world for most part of the year so far and will compete in his ninth successive Major when he tees up at the British Open this week.

Chawrasia, who has tasted four international wins including three on the European Tour, notched up a long-awaited Indian Open victory earlier this year to be in contention for the Olympics.

Formidable pairing

The 38-year-old Kolkata-based professional will make a formidable pairing with Lahiri as both the golfers have been at the top in the recent past.

Another regular on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), Mohammad Siddikur Rahman (world ranking 308), a two-time Asian Tour winner, was placed 56th in the qualification list and will represent his country Bangladesh.

Eighteen-year-old Aditi (world ranking 444) was slotted 58th among the women who have qualified.

The Bengaluru girl was a top amateur and turned professional on January 1 this year.

With golf returning to the Olympics after 112 years, altogether 60 players (in men and women sections each) will be seen in action at the Olympic Golf Course where the competition will be held from August 11 to 14.

It is noteworthy that one woman golfer Lee-Anne Pace and at least 17 men golfers have withdrawn from the Olympics citing various reasons, including the Zika virus threat.