Olympics 2024: PGTI President Kapil Dev Expects Medal from Aditi Ashok in Paris

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New Delhi, July 11: Legendary cricketer and newly appointed PGTI president Kapil Dev believes India's leading golfer Aditi Ashok has a strong chance to win a medal at the Paris Olympics, provided her form holds up under pressure.

Aditi captured the nation's hearts by finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, narrowly missing out on a medal. She finished just one stroke behind bronze medallist Lydia Ko and two strokes behind gold winner Nelly Korda, with her form slipping on the final day after being second overnight.

"I want to see Aditi playing with the same pomp that she played with in the Tokyo Olympics. For cricketers and golfers, form is very important. If Aditi plays in the same form, she has a good chance to win a medal. And if she has a bad week, then she can only sit out and rue the loss," Kapil Dev told PTI Videos in an exclusive interview.

Kapil Dev, a World Cup-winning captain who has been active on the PGTI circuit for many years, also highlighted the lack of quality international-level golf courses in India as a significant challenge.

"In India, there is a catch-22 situation. You have to have good golf courses up to international standards with top tournaments and people playing golf in tougher conditions and scoring well. Some of the courses in India have to improve also and give the players decent courses to play on.

"I have seen playing 20 under, 19 under, 18 under, but conditions may not be as good as we would like to have. Somebody who has played in DLF Gurgaon or Oxford, and hit 15 or 20 under, then you can say that's a different level you have played," he added.

As the newly appointed PGTI president, Kapil Dev shared his vision and priorities for the future of Indian golf. "My first vision is to bring money to golf and more golf to the players. At the moment they play 15 or 20 weeks a year; if we can make it 30-35 weeks a year... that's the vision.

"The only way it can come is if more sponsors come. So I would like more tours and tournaments to take place. I will open the door for many companies and the corporate world to come out and promote golf. Golf is slightly different because every person has to earn his own money. In cricket, the Board decides the fees. Start talking to the corporate world if they can come and organise more golf tournaments. That's the immediate plan. I am not the lone golfer who played the game.

"I can't say I am the one who will lead it. Yes, I will try and help a lot of golfers in the country and bring more corporates into the game," he emphasized.

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