Tokyo, Aug 5: Indian golfer Aditi Ashok was in contention for a historic Olympic medal after carding a flawless five-under 66 in the second round of the women’s competition at the ongoing Games here on Thursday.
The 23-year-old rolled in five birdies, including three in her last four holes, on another steamy day at Kasumigaseki Country Club to lie tied second on nine-under 133 with Danish duo, Nanna Koerstz Madsen (64) and Emily Pedersen (63).
Aditi, playing her second Olympics with her mother, Maheshwari, as her caddie, trails leader – world no.1 Nelly Korda of USA – by four shots. Korda (67-62) at one stage was 11-under for 17 holes and looked set for a historic sub-60 score of 59 at the Par-71 course.
Diksha Dagar returned a 72 to share 53rd place on six-over 148. Aditi kept herself in prime position of delivering a first-ever medal in golf for India with birdies on Hole Nos. 2, 5, 15, 17 and 18.
With the competition faced with the possibility of being reduced to 54 holes due to impending thunderstorms, Aditi knows she needs to keep firing at the flags to ensure what would be a monumental podium finish for Indian golf. (PTI)
