Which Indian golfers are in contention to qualify for Paris Olympics 2024?

India can send four golfers to the Paris Olympics 2024.

Paris is set to welcome the world’s finest athletes from 26 July to 11 August 2024. The spotlight shines on Le Golf National with the venue hosting the Olympic Golf Competition, with the men’s event teeing off from 1-4 August and the women’s from 7-10 August.

Race for qualification is on, with the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) serving as the key to entry. A total of 120 golfers, split evenly between men and women, will have the chance to compete on this global stage.

The top 15 players from the OWGR will automatically qualify, with a limit of four athletes per country. Beyond these elite ranks, two golfers from each country can qualify through the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR), provided their nation doesn’t already have two or more players among the top 15.

Ultimately, the decision to participate in the Paris Games lies in the hands of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), who hold the exclusive right to select and send athletes to represent their country. The path to Paris 2024 is clear: excel in the rankings and earn the approval of your NOC.

Historically, India has seen participation in the Olympics in the form of Jeev Milkha Singh, and Aditi Ashok, and with the Paris Olympics around the corner, some players are in contention to secure their spots in Paris 2024.

NOTE: Anirban Lahiri was also contesting for the race to the Paris Olympics 2024. However, it seems tough for him to qualify because of his current OWGR ranking. He’s currently 413th in the world ranking.

Indian golfers still in race to qualify for Paris Olympics 2024

Shubhankar Sharma – World Ranking: 46, IGF Ranking: 188

Shubhankar Sharma began his professional career in 2013 and has since won multiple tournaments on both the Asian Development Tour and the Asian Tour. In 2017, his performance at the Joburg Open paved the way for his debut on the European Tour, which led to his first appearance at the 2018 Open Championship.

Following his success at the Maybank Championship, Sharma consistently performed well at the WGC-Mexico Championship, securing his place at the Masters Tournament. With eight professional wins to his name, Sharma is now charting a clear course towards the Paris Olympics 2024.

Gaganjeet Bhullar – World Ranking: 53, IGF Ranking: 248

Gaganjeet Bhullar turned professional in 2006 and quickly established himself as one of the top golfers on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), finishing in the top 10 on multiple occasions and securing three tournament victories in 2009.

He transitioned to the European Tour in 2014, achieving a 10th place finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Bhullar took fifth place at the Kenya Open in 2019 and was a joint runner-up at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in 2021. With 24 professional wins under his belt, Bhullar is now setting his sights on the Paris Olympics 2024.

Aditi Ashok – World Ranking: 25, IGF Ranking: 40

Aditi Ashok turned professional in 2016 and quickly captured the attention of both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour by winning seven professional tournaments to date.

In 2019, she made the cut in 13 out of 22 LPGA Tour events and consistently achieved better finishes on the Ladies European Tour. Representing India at the 2016 Summer Olympics, she finished in 41st place. At the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics, held in 2021, Ashok, then ranked 200th globally, impressively finished fourth in the women’s individual stroke play event.

Diksha Dagar – World Ranking: 40, IGF Ranking: 144

Diksha Dagar turned professional in 2019 and won the Investec South African Women’s Open that same year. She became India’s youngest female to win a Ladies European Tour trophy at the age of 18. In 2021, she claimed the Aramco Team Series – London title, becoming the second Indian female golfer to secure two LET victories in her career.

Dagar represented India at the 2020 Summer Olympics and made history as the first athlete to win two Deaflympic medals, including gold at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics. She has three professional victories so far, and her prospects for the Paris Olympics are promising.

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