Having performed “properly beneath his potential” within the final two Olympics, Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri stated that he’ll do every part in his energy to qualify for the Paris Video games and make a bid for a dream podium end on the quadrennial showpiece.
Lahiri, who switched to LIV Golf from the USPGA in 2022 and shifted his base from Florida to Dubai, has been handicapped in his endeavour to safe a Paris berth as a result of the brand new rival entity can’t grant world rating factors to qualify for the Olympics.
The 36-year-old should compete within the restricted tournaments accessible outdoors LIV Golf and hope to earn sufficient factors after which hold his fingers crossed for a Paris berth.
“It’s essential for me to symbolize my nation. I’ve been on the Olympics a few occasions, and each occasions I’ve performed properly beneath my potential and it’s one thing that I’d love to vary,” stated Lahiri throughout an interplay facilitated by FanCode.
“To have the ability to try this, I would like these world rating factors. Sadly, that’s the solely qualification system regardless that, in my view, that shouldn’t be the case. However as a result of that’s the method it’s, I’m really attempting to play as many tournaments as I can outdoors of the LIV Golf schedule,” stated Lahiri.
The previous world no. 33 had made the swap to the rival LIV Golf inside months of his best achievement of ending runners-up at The Gamers Championship, an annual event on the PGA Tour, in 2022.
Lahiri stated he’ll play a number of tournaments in Asia, together with the Indian Open later this month, to earn factors and be in rivalry for Paris.
“I’m enjoying in Macao subsequent week, I performed in Oman two weeks in the past, I’m enjoying the Indian Open. Probably, add one or two extra tournaments in Could earlier than the (Olympic qualification) deadline of the second week of June.
“So, I’m going to do every part in my energy to offer myself the chance to earn these factors nevertheless it’s attainable,” stated the 2015 Indian Open winner, who can be seen on the DLF Golf & Nation Membership from March 28-31 after almost 5 years bidding for his second nationwide title.
“And that’s (efficiency) all I can actually management. I can’t management the end result, I can’t management whether or not I do make it to the workforce however I can put within the effort and my dedication, which is 110 per cent,” he added.
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After an outstanding 2015, which noticed him win twice on the European Tour, and the T5 end on the PGA Championship aiding his elevation to the PGA Tour, Anirban had a relatively quiet 12 months, till he completed runner-up at The Gamers Championship in 2022.
Lahiri would hope luck shines on him once more as he begins the essential section of his Olympic qualification journey. He’s presently ranked 350 on the earth, whereas Shubhankar Sharma (201) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (229) are the entrance runners to make the minimize for Paris.
On the Tokyo Video games, Aditi Ashok was in rivalry for a medal till the seventeenth gap earlier than falling quick by a stroke to complete fourth.
The 25-year-old from Bengaluru had gained the Asian Video games silver in Hangzhou final 12 months and likewise secured her second victory of the Women European Tour season, clinching the Costa del Sol Open de Espana.
Requested about India’s possibilities on the Paris Olympics, Lahiri stated, “Tough query to reply as a result of golf is a sport which may be very troublesome to take a look at a private greatest when it comes to a swimmer or an athlete and say ‘oh this man has acquired a superb probability’.
“I do really feel that Aditi has been enjoying very well and Gagan (Gaganjeet Bhullar) has been enjoying very well. Shubhankar (Sharma) has performed very properly on the golf course (in Paris, which can be used throughout the Olympics). I feel Shubhankar must be a lock undoubtedly on that flight to Paris.”
“Whoever will get there (Paris) I simply… I hope it’s me together with the remainder of the workforce however now we have to arrange. On the finish of the day, anybody of us can get on the rostrum however we have to peak on the proper time,” he concluded.