Golfer Aditi Ashok created history on the final day of India’s run in Tokyo Olympics 2020 and finished 4th. Ranked 200, Aditi surprised her opponents with her impressive run but missed out on winning the medal by a whisker. It is to be noted that India haven’t won an Olympic medal in golf.

Even though she missed out on winning a medal, it was a memorable day out for the 23-year-old. Following her impressive run in Tokyo Olympics, Aditi spoke to Times Now and asked for girls to be encouraged to take up sports. 

India have so far won 5 medals in Tokyo Olympics. Out of these, women Olympians have 3 medals in singles events. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal while boxer Lovlina Borgohain and shuttler PV Sindhu won bronze medal. In 2016, only women Olympians (Sindhu and Sakshi Malik) had brought home medal glory.

Speaking on women’s success in Tokyo Olympics, Aditi told Times Now: “Ya for sure and this shows a lot of people that girls should be encouraged to take up sports more. Boys will somehow end up playing through school or through anything but girls need to be encouraged more. Just the fact that women have done well from India this Olympics itself shows that across all sports, we need that support and that encouragement. And we are probably no less than men. We can win medals too, we deserve the same, treatment and support.”

Aditi was tied  T3 before the rain interruption. She moved down to the 4th spot when the play resumed. The final 2 holes, however, saw her slip down to 4th, with Lydia Ko taking her spot.

New Zealand’s Lydia won the bronze medal. USA’s Nelly Korda won the gold medal while Japan’s Mone Inami won the silver medal.

It was the 2nd time when Aditi participated in Olympics. The youngest ever Indian golfer to feature in the quadrennial event, Aditi had also participated in Rio Olympics.