Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma made a remarkable advancement at the Paris 2024 Olympics, climbing four spots on the leaderboard to secure a T25 position after the second round. His fellow Indian, Gaganjeet Bhullar, also improved his standing by four places, moving to T52.
Sharma’s impressive performance, highlighted by a 2-under 69 round, included two eagles and two birdies, putting him in a competitive position.
The 36-year-old, a former Asian No. 1 and Asian Games silver medalist, is making his Olympic debut with this strong showing. His skillful play in the second round has brought attention to his potential to climb further as the competition progresses.
Gaganjeet Bhullar, another first-time Olympian, managed to bounce back from a challenging opening round. He delivered a solid 2-under performance, which lifted his spirits and his position on the leaderboard.
Despite this improvement, Bhullar currently sits at T52 with a total score of 2-over 144, showing resilience in his Olympic journey.
On the international front, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama maintained his lead, showcasing consistent performance. However, he faces intense competition from defending champion Xander Schauffele of the USA and Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood.
This trio is tied at the top with a score of 11-under, setting the stage for an exciting battle for the top spot as the tournament progresses.
India’s best Olympic golf performance to date remains Anirban Lahiri’s T42 finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This year, India’s golfers are aiming to surpass this achievement.
In the women’s golf competition, Indian players Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok are set to compete. Aditi Ashok narrowly missed a medal at Tokyo 2020, and she will be keen to improve upon her previous performance in Paris.
Golf made its return to the Olympic program in 2016 after being absent for over a century, and it has quickly regained its status as a highly competitive event.
The inclusion of top golfers from around the world has elevated the level of competition, making it an exciting event to watch.
As the tournament continues, the focus will be on whether Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar can maintain their momentum and achieve notable finishes for India.
With strong performances from both Sharma and Bhullar, Indian golf fans have reason to be optimistic about the country’s prospects in this prestigious global sporting event.
The coming rounds will be crucial in determining their final standings and potential to make history for Indian golf at the Olympics.