24 August 2018: The boys continued their fine run at the Pondok Indah Golf & Country Club as the golf competition in the Asian Games reached the halfway stage. Aadil Bedi continues to be the leading Indian, lying T3 at 5-under 139. Keita Nakajima remained in the lead at 8-under while Hoyoung Choi was trailing him at 7-under through two rounds.
In the Men’s team competition, India is lying second behind Japan. Korea is in third place.
The girls had a tough day on the course. Sifat Sagoo was the best placed Indian, lying at T20. The 17-year-old shot an even 72 in the second round, aided by five birdies. She is two over through 36 holes.
Ridhima Dilawari also shot an even 72 on Friday, but she is five over currently at T24. Diksha Dagar conceded ground after making a 78 in the second round, her card tarnished by seven bogeys.
At two over overall, India is lying in ninth place on the Women’s Team standings. While they are lagging the leading Chinese women by a whopping 17 strokes, there is still some hope if they can produce low scores on Saturday. The Philippines, Korea and Indonesia are all in third place at six under and certainly not out of reach for this talented trio from India.
The best performance of the day came from Kshitij Kaul. The young man impressed Indian golf fans with a stellar performance in the Hero Indian Open earlier this season. He showed some of that form in the second round, producing a spotless 68.
Kshitij got off to a rousing start, making three birdies in four holes from the 12th. He also made a birdie on the sixth hole to end the day in T8. At three under, he is only two strokes adrift from the current medal winning pace.
Rayhan Thomas was also four under for much of his round. He got off to a scorcher, cruising through the first nine in just 32 strokes. Only a late bogey, at the ninth hole, dropped Rayhan to a 69 and 4-under through 36 holes. He is in T5.
The highlight of Harimohan Singh’s round was an eagle at the 569-yard, par-5 sixth hole. But he also conceded three bogeys and a double bogey at the par-3 12thhole, reaching into the weekend with a 73. At 6-over, Hari is currently lying in T35. The 24-year-old needs a significantly improved effort to try and rise up the order during a promising weekend.
