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India's Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar have made a promising start in the women's individual stroke play golf event at the Paris Olympics. Aditi finished tied for 13th spot with a par score of 72, while Diksha was tied seventh with a score of one-under-par 71.Aditi, who finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, began strongly with a birdie on the third hole. However, she dropped a shot on the eighth hole before recovering with another birdie on the ninth. A birdie on the 13th hole gave her a chance to finish in the top 10, but a double bogey on the final hole dropped her back to par.Diksha, a two-time Deaflympics gold medalist, had a more consistent round. She birdied the seventh, 11th, and 14th holes, but bogeyed the 17th and 18th holes to finish tied for seventh.French golfer Celine Boutier leads the pack after Round 1 with a seven-under-par score of 65.Both Aditi and Diksha have all to play for in the next three rounds. With their experience and determination, they will be hoping to challenge for a medal in Paris.

Indian golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar are set to embark on their Olympic journeys in Paris, carrying the hopes of their nation. Aditi, a two-time Olympian, narrowly missed out on a medal in Tokyo, finishing fourth. Determined to make amends, she will be eager to secure a podium finish this time.Diksha, on the other hand, has overcome a traumatic car accident that left her mother hospitalized. Despite the setback, the 23-year-old has remained resilient and is focused on achieving Olympic success.The women's golf competition in Paris will feature a quarter of the field who have competed in all three Games since the sport's return in 2016. Aditi and Diksha are among the experienced players, with Aditi making her third appearance and Diksha her second.Aditi will tee off alongside Gaby Lopez (Mexico) and Esther Henseleit (Germany), while Diksha will play with Wei-Ling Hsu (Chinese Taipei) and Emma Spitz (Austria). The competition runs from Wednesday to Saturday.Aditi has enjoyed success on the Ladies European Tour, winning five times, but is yet to claim a victory on the LPGA. Her breakthrough moment came in 2021 when she came within a whisker of an Olympic medal. Despite missing out, she received widespread recognition and appreciation.Diksha is a unique athlete who has competed in both the Deaflympics and the Olympics. A double medallist in the Deaflympics, she qualified for Tokyo at the last minute. This time, her consistent performances earned her a place months in advance.In Paris, Diksha faced an unexpected scare when the car she was traveling in with her family was involved in an accident. While she and her father were uninjured, her brother sustained minor injuries and her mother suffered a back injury. However, her mother is now recovering.Aditi is coming off a tie for 22nd at the LPGA Tour's Portland Classic. She has played four weeks in a row and is looking to maintain her momentum in Paris.The women's golf field in Paris is highly competitive, with 12 of the top 15 players participating. Six players who have reached World No. 1 are among the contenders, including Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Atthaya Thitikul, Lilia Vu, and Ruoning Yin.Minjee Lee of Australia will be making her third Olympic appearance, following her brother Min Woo's debut in the men's competition. The Lees are the only brother-sister combination in the Olympic golf fields.Celine Boutier is one of two French players competing in the women's golf competition, along with Perrine Delacour. Boutier had a stellar season in 2023, winning four times, including the Amundi Evian Championship in her home country.

Indian golfer Diksha Dagar, who is set to represent her country at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, was involved in a car accident on Tuesday night. However, despite the incident, Dagar is reportedly doing well and is expected to compete in her event as scheduled.According to Dagar's father and caddie, Colonel Naren Dagar, Diksha sustained no major injuries and is currently practicing for the Olympics. However, her mother has been hospitalized with a suspected spinal injury and will remain under observation for the next few days. The extent of her injuries will be determined after further tests and diagnosis.The accident occurred when the Dagar family's car was struck by another vehicle while returning from a function at India House. The family's driver was reportedly crossing an intersection when the light turned red, and an ambulance parked on the side obscured their view of an oncoming car. The other vehicle collided with the Dagar family's car from the side.This is Diksha Dagar's second Olympic appearance, and she is scheduled to compete in the women's golf tournament from August 7 to 10. The men's golf competition, featuring Indian golfers Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar, commenced on Thursday.Despite the setback, Diksha Dagar remains determined to perform well at the Olympics. Her father expressed confidence in her ability to overcome this adversity and represent India with pride.

Diksha Dagar, a trailblazing golfer, has etched her name in the annals of sports history. Despite her profound deafness, she has defied limitations, excelling both on the golf course and in the classroom.As a second-year BCom (Prog) student at Delhi University's School of Open Learning (SOL), Dagar recently achieved a remarkable feat by tying for 24th position in the 2024 Amundi German Masters. Her accolades extend beyond the golf course, as she was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award in January 2023.Dagar's journey has been marked by resilience and determination. Born with profound deafness, she relies primarily on lip-reading or sign language to communicate. "I don't think any athlete wants to be referred to [as disabled]," she asserts. "It's like being labelled as someone lesser and being put in a box."Despite the challenges, Dagar refuses to let her disability define her. She has become the only golfer to participate in both the Olympics and the Deaflympics, where she has won two medals. "The biggest challenge [as a hearing-impaired person] is when people have different accents, especially on international tours," she explains. "But overcoming that is as important for me as excelling in my discipline."Dagar's academic pursuits are equally impressive. She credits SOL for providing an "inclusive space" for differently-abled athletes. "When I'm at DU, I feel there are opportunities available to us," she says. "We're the selected few, so we're better off than most physically challenged people in other parts of the country."However, Dagar emphasizes the need for athlete-specific courses in DU to ensure inclusivity for athletes who prioritize their academics. "Being a professional athlete, my academics often take a backseat," she admits. "But it's a well-deliberated decision. That's where an institution like SOL is helpful; it's why I can play 100 LET tournaments."Diksha Dagar's story is an inspiration to all. She has proven that with determination and support, anything is possible. Her achievements on and off the golf course serve as a testament to her unwavering spirit and the transformative power of inclusivity.

Diksha Dagar and Pranavi Urs, two of India's most promising golfers, will lead a contingent of seven Indians at the €300,000 Amundi German Masters. The tournament, held at the Seddiner See course near Berlin, will feature 132 players competing in a 72-hole event.Dagar, who will also represent India at the Paris Olympics, has had a stellar 2023 season, finishing third in the LET Order of Merit and winning the Czech Ladies Open. She was also third at the Amundi German Masters and the Hero Women's Indian Open.Urs, meanwhile, finished T-7 last week in the Aramco Series Korea. Vani Kapoor, Tvesa Malik, and Amandeep Drall will be looking to regain their LET Tour cards, while Sneha Singh, the 2023 Hero Order of Merit winner, will be hoping to make a mark on the international stage. Amateur Avani Prashanth, who played in the event last year, is also expected to turn pro at the end of the year.Defending champion Kristyna Napoleaova of the Czech Republic will be among the favorites, along with former Order of Merit winners Trichat Cheenglab and Lee-Anne Pace. Four winners from the 2024 LET season, including Bronte Law, Alexandra Forsterling, Mariajo Uribe, and Manon De Roey, will also be vying for the title.The cut will be applied after 36 holes, with the top 60 and ties advancing to the final two rounds. The tournament will provide a valuable opportunity for the Indian golfers to gain experience and compete against some of the best players in Europe.