New Delhi: Experienced Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri, who is trying to secure a ticket for the Paris Olympics, would like to end his nine-year title drought in the Hero Indian Open starting here from Thursday. Lahiri, who has represented the country twice in the Olympics, will be returning to the National Championship after a long time.
After joining LIV Golf, his ranking has increased to 401 and he will need good results to make it to the Paris Games. Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf is not recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Lahiri had won his previous title in the same event nine years ago (2015). He is confident of performing better in its 57th event.
He said, “I want to win here.” I’m eager to win here again. ….I have been playing for the last 15-16 years and the desire to win here is the same as it was 10, 15 years ago. I have to prove this to myself.” The 36-year-old player said, ”I would like to go to Paris. For this I will have to play well in the next eight rounds or 12 rounds. I would like to do this in Asian Tour tournaments.”
Lahiri is at third place in the ranking of Indian players. Before him are Shubhankar Sharma (202) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (240). Both these players would not like to miss the opportunity to represent the country in the Olympics. 144 players from 25 countries will compete in this $2.25 million (approximately Rs 18.75 crore) prize money competition.
Apart from Lahiri, Bhullar and Subhankar, Indian players like Manu Gandas, Shaurya Binu, Rashid Khan, Aman Raj, Yuvraj Sandhu, S Chikkarangappa, Karandeep Kochhar and Veer Ahlawat will be in contention for the title. SSP Chawrasia is the last Indian to win this title in 2017.
