Indian teens hunt for Sirikit Cup

India's best young women golfers will take to the practice range this week, ahead of the client visit this week.

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Report by Anand Datla

 

May 19, 2015:  Ridhima Dilawari, Gaurika Bishnoi and Nishtha Madan will carry Indian hopes on their tender shoulders this week, during the 37th Queen Sirikit Cup in Hong Kong. The Asia-Pacific Invitational ladies team golf championship starts on Wednesday at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

 

The three young ladies made their way into the team on the dint of their hard work at the Jaypee Greens in Noida this April. Ridhima and Gaurika are second and third respectively on the IGU merit list.

 

Nishtha is seventh on the list and the three women will look to upend some of fancied players during the course of these three days. The tournament starts on 20th May and shall last for three days.

 

Madan will be making her Sirikit Cup debut this week, with both Dilawari and Bishnoi will be representing India at this event for a second time. The women will look to ride their confidence from the Faldo Series, where Madan and Bishnoi finished ninth and eighth respectively.

 

“I have made great strides in my career since I went to the Queen Sirikit Cup last year which happened to be my first international tournament. I am turning my attention to the A-level tournaments now and I hope it would be a great week as I have been working really hard for this,” said Gaurika.

 

“Gaurika and I are probably the longest hitters on our National tour, but these international players hit at least 15-20 yards ahead than us,” said the 17 year old Ridhima. “Players especially from Korea and China are better with accuracy as well. Since we have played with them in the past, we are fully prepared to put up a good show.”

 

“It was thrill to win in Abu Dhabi in a field of 50 players from UAE, Saudi Arabia and India. I am very confident about our team as we share a very good bonding,” said Nishtha, who won the Taylor Made Junior Open Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club last year. “Gaurika and I have stayed together during the camp of Queen Sirikit Cup and went to the Faldo Series together as well. Hopefully, we can show the same team bonding at the course and draw closer to the top five positions with a good result this week.”

 

The Indian team has never won the Sirikit Cup and this young group is looking to make history this week, if they can keep their bags active at the demanding course in Hong Kong. Gauri Monga, Vani Kapoor and Aditi Ashok finished fourth at the Delhi Golf Club in 2011. The troika emulated the efforts of Nonita Lall Qureshi, Shiraz Shaheed and Ranjit Grewal, who finished fourth in 1986.

 

Korea has been a dominant force at this event, having won the trophy an incredible 16 times.

 

 

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