Aditi Ashok! Indian Golfer, who finished 4th at Tokyo 2020, who is she?

Aditi Ashok, a name that has taken the Indian Golfing circuit by storm. Aditi finishing 4^th at the Tokyo Olympics took all of the sporting community by surprise. She was previously ranked number 200 before the games and wasn’t expected to make it to the deciding rounds. However, her fighting spirit and skillful performance came out all guns blazing on the day of the event. Aditi led the charts for most of the rounds before running out of luck in her final rounds where she lost control. After becoming the first golfer to qualify for Olympics, Aditi created history by finishing 4^th!! 

Early life and schooling: – 

Aditi was born to Ashok Gudlamani and Maheshwari on 29^th March 1998. She hails from the city of Bangalore. When she was 5, she first expressed her interest in the sport. Back then Bangalore had only 3 golf courses, however, her dad managed to get her a place in the courses. She was educated from the Frank Anthony School and graduated in the year 2016. Aditi was winning championships at the age of 12 and 13 itself. She dominated the National Junior Championships in the years 2012,2013 and 2014.  

Trophies and Championships won: – 

Amateur Championships: – 

1) 2011 USHA Karnataka Junior, Southern India Junior, Faldo Series Asia – India, East India Tolly Ladies, All India Championship 

2) 2012 USHA Delhi Ladies, USHA Army Championship, All India Junior 

3) 2013 Asia Pacific Junior Championship 

4) 2014 Eastern India Ladies Amateur, USHA IGU All India Ladies & Girls Championship 

5) 2015 Army Ladies & Junior Championship, St Rule Trophy, Southern India Ladies & Junior Girls Championship, Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Thailand Amateur Open 

Professional Championships: – 

1) 2016 Hero Women’s Indian Open, Qatar Ladies Open 

2) 2017 Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open 

Support from family and government: – 

Aditi’s family has always been supportive of her game. This came to be understood by the fact that her caddie at the 2016 Rio Olympics was her dad Ashok Gudlamani and her caddie at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was her mother Maheshwari Ashok. Her dad always made arrangements for Aditi’s golf clubs. Considering that Aditi hails from a middle-class background and golf is a rich person’s game the finances are always a question. But her parents never budged an inch from bearing the costs for her equipment. Aditi was conferred with the Arjun Award in the year 2020. The government has recognized her achievements on multiple occasions as well.