Exclusive - Aditi Ashok can defeat the best with a bit of work on fitness: Former coach Tarun Sardesai

Aditi Ashok was ranked 200th in the world when she entered the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Not many expected her to pull off a major result. But, in the first two days of the golfing tournament in Tokyo, Aditi finished in the top two. When the fourth day dawned, there was a magnificent sight. Thousands of sports fans were searching frantically for Golf rules and the chances of a medal. Terms like birdie, par, eagle were being searched in huge numbers.

Aditi finished the tournament fourth, one stroke behind the bronze medal and just two strokes away from gold. The performance was simply stunning as the youngster achieved a fantastic milestone. Aditi Ashok outperformed Australian golfer Hannah Green (ranked 17th) among other noteworthy players, showcasing her mastery over the craft.

However, former coach Tarun Sardesai was not surprised by her exploits in Tokyo, having witnessed her brilliance at the tender age of 9. Tarun shared an anecdote showcasing her intelligence and his opinion over Aditi’s performance in an exclusive interaction with Sportslumo.

Here are some excerpts from the chat:

1) What is your opinion on Aditi’s brilliant display in the Tokyo Olympics?

It was definitely a fine performance. However, I knew that when Aditi gets going, she can really be a sensational performer. If anybody could make India proud like she eventually did, I was confident it would be her. Sometimes the course and conditions can have a massive impact on proceedings. When I observed the course after Day 1, one thing which caught my attention was the fact that the course was perfectly set up with very true greens. It was beautifully prepared and suited Aditi’s game. That was all she needed. I was not surprised to note Aditi’s brilliant gameplay, having witnessed her magical dominance on greens in past events on the Ladies European Tour.

The 23-year-old is very good with her short game, which along with the favourably setup course definitely played a role. While I was optimistic about Aditi winning a medal because of the supreme effort put in, I guess it was not meant to be.

2) Having trained Aditi during the nascent stages of her journey, can you share an anecdote that convinced you over her ability to emerge as a star performer?

That is a tough question because of the numerous instances of this nature. However, one special experience dates back to when she was just nine years old. Aditi was having trouble while putting, which made her parents a bit nervous as she would have many 3 putts. I urged her not to worry and instead trust her instincts on the greens , following it up by asking her to believe in herself. Aditi executed the instructions perfectly, and soon was able to read greens and putt better than anyone in her age category. She was independent and did not need the caddie’s advice like so many other juniors of her time. At that point I knew that she would emerge as one of the best golfers in the world. If you are great on the greens, then you can definitely compete well at any level.

Another interesting insight that I can share about Aditi is the fact that even as a nine-year-old, she was quite diligent and meticulous in nature with regard to her training. Her desire to note down everything that was shared was very unique for a kid of that age. The focus and clarity that Aditi enjoyed at the age of 9 was something else altogether.

3) What are the salient transformations in her gameplay that you have observed over the years?

She has evolved beautifully as a golfer. Any careless mistakes that were made as a junior golfer have been completely erased. Aditi now looks to play within herself, which means not attempting shots that she knows cannot be pulled off perfectly. Aditi has developed into a very smart golfer. I am extremely sure that she can make the nation proud with her exploits in the coming years. A lot of credit in this regard goes to her family who have supported her through thick and thin. The efforts definitely reflected on the course.

4) Can Aditi develop into one of the best golfers that the world has ever seen?

A. I would definitely back her, especially after the fantastic performance in Tokyo which must have boosted her confidence massively. However, it is necessary for Aditi to work on her fitness a little bit, so that she can hit the ball around 30 to 40 yards longer. I hope she pays keen attention to this aspect because it has been discussed a lot. If Aditi takes a year off to work on her fitness, it would definitely result in the golfer emerging as a major contender in top tournaments. A bit of effort in this direction will render her capable enough of beating the best in the business.

5) What are those aspects that make her special?

She is mentally strong and backs herself in every scenario. Aditi has immense faith in her capabilities. While that sounds like a cliche, it is a very rare quality among sportspersons. When Aditi competes in a tournament, she backs herself a 150 percent which makes her very special. Her dominance over a short game under 100 yards, is another very impressive quality.

6) Will Aditi’s inspirational performance spark a revolution with regard to golf in India?

I think it has already sparked a revolution. At least 10,000 people who had never followed golf in their lives, sat glued to their TV sets at 5.30 AM, because of a potential medal being on the cards. Many more young girls will be attracted to the game, with golf further benefitting from the increased seriousness that this accomplishment will help herald. Corporate sponsors will be more involved with development programmes expected to be introduced.

7) Many Indians believe that golf is only for the rich. What is your opinion on this?

This is a myth. Golf is only as expensive as you make it. It will incur the same expenditure as any other sport like cricket or football. The equipment does result in some money being shelled out, but that is hardly specific to one sport. I would encourage everyone to just walk down to the nearest golf club and give it a shot. If they reach out to people like me, I will be more than happy to guide the masses in the right direction. Hopefully, more and more people will listen to these viewpoints and leave their misconceptions behind.