Asian Games 2023: Aditi Ashok won a silver medal for India in golf on Sunday and became the first Indian woman Golfer to win a medal in golf at the Asian Games. Ashok's fortunes tumbled on the final day as she carded a topsy-turvy 73 to sign off with the silver medal. She entered the final day with a commanding seven-stroke lead, Aditi stumbled upon four bogeys and a double bogey against a lone birdie to slip to the second position.
The 25-year-old ended her campaign with a four-day aggregate of 17-under 271 as Thailand's Arpichaya Yubol produced her week's best card of 64 and secured the coveted gold medal. Korea's Hyunjo Yoo, too, carded an improved 65 to bag a bronze medal. The Indian women's team ended its campaign at the fourth place. India's other two players, Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth, too struggled to bring home cards of 75 and 76.
Despite missing out on the gold medal, it was still a creditable performance from the two-time Olympian from Bangalore, who had missed a medal by a whisker at the Tokyo Games after finishing fourth. It was India's fourth individual medal in golf with Lakshman Singh and Shiv Kapur winning the gold in the 1982 and 2002 editions and Rajiv Mohta claiming a silver in New Delhi.
An Indian squad comprising Lakshman, Rajiv, Rishi Narain and Amit Luthra had won the team gold in 1982, while the country also won two team silver medals in 2006 and 2010 editions at Doha and Guangzhou.
In squash, India’s mixed doubles teams won their respective pool matches on Sunday. In Pool A, the pair of Dipika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu defeated the South Korean duo of Jaejin Yoo and Hwayeong Eum 2-0, recording an 11-2, 11-5 win in 22 minutes. On the other hand, the pair of Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh crushed the pair of David William Pelino and Yvonne Alyssa Dalida from the Philippines 2-0.
Anahat and Abhay won 11-7, 11-5 in their Pool D contest lasting 15 minutes. India's Mahesh Mangaonkar will take on Jonathan Reyes of the Philippines in the men's round of 32.