‘Hope to dominate leaderboard in Rio’

S.S.P. Chawrasia’s excitement knows no bounds. He has grown up on the Asian and European Tours but had always “wished” for golf to be part of the Olympics.

With golf not being in the Games until this year, Chawrasia takes “pride” making his debut as the sport returns to the Olympics after a span of 112 years since the 1904 Games in St. Louis — won by George Lyon of Canada in a 77-man field.

He is now heading for the world’s biggest extravaganza as one of the elite members in India’s largest-ever contingent.

“It is every sportsman’s dream to compete at the Olympics. Till date, I have always watched the Games on television and now I am going for it.

“There’s a great feeling of excitement and pride. It’s an opportunity to do something for the country.

“Hailing from Kolkata, I have heard a lot of stories of tennis player Leander Paes who he is taking part in his seventh Olympics. It will be an honour to compete alongside so many great sportsman like him,” Chawrasia told this paper.

The three-time European Tour winner will be accompanied by country’s top golfer Anirban Lahiri for the men’s competition in Rio, besides young Aditi Ashok in the women’s event. Unlike the 1904 St. Louis Games which saw golfers compete in team and individual formats, Rio will only see action in the individual section.

“I have been in good form in the last few tournaments (including the Scottish Open), I made some small mistakes that cost me. I have worked hard on my swing in Kolkata lately and hope to come up with a good show there,” said the Kolkata golfer.

“Anirban and I will look to get some good results. And if we play consistently on all the four days, we can get a medal.”

Chawrasia, winner of the 2016 Indian Open, felt that the title win at the Delhi Golf Club in March brought good fortunes for him. “I got back my confidence and form,” he stressed, adding that it was him and Lahiri who went neck-and-neck for the title.

“Hope we are able to dominate the leaderboard in Rio as well,” he hoped.

He added that the competition will be “tough” despite several top golfers having opted out of the Games fearing the Zika virus.

“It’s unfortunate that the event will not have some top names in golf like Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and several others but still it will be a challenging field. It will be as tough as a top-level European Tour event,” added the 38-year-old, who will reach Rio on August 4.

The men’s competition gets underway on August 11, followed by the women’s event on August 17.