Diksha Dagar wasn’t the Indian player who came into the Paris Olympics with much of a spotlight, but the two-time Deaflympics medalist got off to a strong start at Le Golf National. Dagar, 23, opened with a 1-under 71 despite bogeys on her last two holes to position herself inside the top 10.
It was Dagar’s countrywoman Aditi Ashok, who contended early at the Rio Olympics and finished fourth in Tokyo, who arrived late to Paris with a good amount of buzz. Ashok doubled the last hole to shoot an even-par 72 and take a share of 13th.
Dagar, a two-time winner on the LET who plays golf left-handed, learned the game from her father Narinda, a scratch golfer who serves in the Indian army. Dagar was born deaf and has worn hearing aids since the age of six. Younger brother Yogesh is also hearing impaired.
Olympics: Photos | Field | Wednesday tee times
Dagar relishes the opportunity to inspire.
“When I was playing tournaments, I had no idea what I was doing, but when the people come to me … and they are deaf like me, they ask, ‘I follow you, and it’s very inspiring to see you,’ ” said Dagar.
“I mean, it feels so good, like it feels amazing. At least I’m walking on the right path and I want to do something better and inspire them more.”
It was already an eventful Olympic experience for Dagar before she even struck a tee shot. Last week in Paris, Dagar and her family were involved in a car accident that left her mother hospitalized.
“It’s OK, you can’t avoid the accident,” said Dagar. “It happened. Like it was nobody’s fault … it was terrible accident but by God’s grace we are safe. I’m very lucky and blessed to play the Olympics the second time.”
Aditi Ashok of Team India alongside her caddie, looks across the third hole during Day One of the Women’s Individual Stroke Play on day twelve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Le Golf National on August 07, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
A five-time winner on the LET, Ashok has come close to winning on the LPGA and couldn’t pass up an opportunity to play one of her favorite courses on tour, Columbia Edgewater in Portland, Oregon, prior to coming to the Olympics. She’s the only LPGA player in the field of 60 to compete in last week’s Portland Classic.
Ashok holed her final putt on Sunday in Oregon at 4:10 local time, and while her dad hustled to pack up the car, Ashok showered and then rushed to the airport to catch an overnight flight to…
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