ADITI CONFESSES IT’S HARD TO BE HAPPY WITH 4TH SPOT

Tokyo, Aug. 7: In any other tournament, Aditi Ashok would have gladly taken a fourth-place finish but this was the Olympics and the golfer said it is hard for her to be happy even though she produced the best ever performance by an Indian at the showpiece.

“I think I gave it my 100 per cent, but, yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give out three medals, kind of sucks. In any other tournament I would be really happy, but it’s hard to be happy with fourth place. I played good and gave it my 100 per cent,” she said.

But she is hopeful that her stellar performance would ignite unprecedented interest in the sport, which is perceived to be elitist.

“I wish I had a medal, but I hope everyone is still happy. Going into the round, I didn’t think about it (people watching her on TV) too much,” she said.

“Just having more top finishes, even if it’s not exactly a podium finish, will maybe bring more support to the sport, (with) more kids picking it up. That helps build the game,” she said.

Golf returned to Olympics in 2016 after over a 100-year gap and Aditi had competed at that edition, finishing tied 41st.

Did she have any thoughts on the dreaded fourth spot, or knew of legends like Milkha Singh, who had ended fourth at the Games?

“No, I didn’t know that actually obviously now that I’ve joined that — you don’t want to join that club. But I guess I’ve joined it. But no, I think it’s good, just even top 5 or top 10 at an Olympics is really good.”