Asian Games 2023: Aditi Ashok fires sublime 61 to take outright lead in Round 3; Indian women’s team in top spot

Aditi Ashok close to attaining her maiden medal at the Asian Games.

Olympian Aditi Ashok set the West Lake International course ablaze with a sublime 11-under 61 that helped her take a massive seven-stroke lead over Yubol Archipaya of Thailand after the third round of the women’s individual golf competition in the ongoing Asian Games 2023 on Saturday.

The young Indian stayed in contention for an Asiad medal with an overall tally of 22-under 194 that saw her drain nine birdies and an eagle. China’s Xiyu Lin is in third place at 14-under 202 with Baba Saki of Japan holding on to sole fourth position at 11-under 205.

Eila Galitsky of Thailand, Yu Liu of China, Minsol Kim of South Korea and another Thai Patcharajutar Kongkraphan share the fifth place at 10-under 206. South Korea’s Hyunjoo Yoo and Ruoning Yin of China are tied in ninth position a stroke behind.

The other Indian in the fray, Pranavi Sharath Urs took the tied 11th spot after carding a two-under 70 on Saturday for an overall score of seven-under 209. Teenage sensation and compatriot Avani Prashanth was lying in joint 19th place at one-under 215.   

The Indian women’s team are primed for a medal after grabbing the top spot with an overall score of 29-under 403, a stroke ahead of Thailand. China were placed third at 26-under 406.

In the men’s category, it was a disappointing day for Anirban Lahiri, who slipped to tied 17th position after a two-over 74 in the third round. The World No. 148 endured a hat-trick of bogeys on the front nine and a double bogey on the 17th to bow out of title contention.

Taichi Kho of Hong Kong China produced a card of six-under 66 to take sole lead at 24-under 188. Chien-Yao Hung of Chinese Taipei grabbed the second spot 21-under 195.Yubin Jang of South Korea is a stroke behind.

Four-time European Tour winner SSP Chawrasia climbed nine spots to be placed joint 20th after posting a four-under 68 in the penultimate round. The Olympian’s tally read nine-under 206. Khalin Joshi was a stroke behind in tied 24th position. European Tour regular Shubhankar Sharma was lying at tied 33rd at three-under 213.

The Indian men’s team have slipped two positions to be placed eighth at 32-under 616. South Korea lead the team standings at 58-under 490 followed by Thailand and Hong Kong China in joint second place.