Hong Kong, May 19 (IANS) India, represented by teenagers Ridhima Dilawari, Gaurika Bishnoi and Nishtha Madan, hope to put up a strong performance in the 37th Queen Sirikit Cup Asia-Pacific Invitational ladies team golf championship to be held here from Wednesday.
Dilawari, 17, who is currently No.2 on the Indian Golf Union ladies order of merit list, qualified after playing in the Queen Sirikit cup selection trials at the Jaypee Greens Golf Club, Noida last month.
Third-ranked Bishnoi, 17, and Madan, 18 — who is seventh on the IGU list, also qualified from the same tournament.
This is the second time Dilawari and Bishnoi will be representing India at the prestigious Sirikit Cup while Madan will be making her debut in Hong Kong.
All three have had successful outings on the Indian domestic circuit and they have also done well on international tours. Bishnoi finished eighth and Madan ninth in the Faldo Series held in China earlier this year.
Bishnoi said: “I have made great strides in my career since I went to the Queen Sirikit Cup last year which happened to be my first international tournament. I am turning my attention to the A-level tournaments now and I hope it would be a great week as I have been working really hard for this.”
Like Bishnoi, Dilawari and Madan are also coming off a rich vein of form. The young guns know if they can work on their driving and accuracy, they will be in with a chance this week.
“Gaurika and I are probably the longest hitters on our National tour, but these international players hit at least 15-20 yards ahead than us.
“Players especially from Korea and China are better with accuracy as well. Since we have played with them in the past, we are fully prepared to put up a good show,” said Dilawari.
Madan, winner of Taylor Made Junior Open Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club last year, will also bid for a second international victory.
“It was thrill to win in Abu Dhabi in a field of 50 players from UAE, Saudi Arabia and India. I am very confident about our team as we share a very good bonding.
“Gaurika and I have stayed together during the camp of Queen Sirikit Cup and went to the Faldo Series together as well. Hopefully, we can show the same team bonding at the course and draw closer to the top five positions with a good result this week,” said Madan.
The best show so far for India at Queen Sirikit Cup was in 2011 when Gauri Monga, Vani Kapoor and Aditi Ashok finished fourth at the Delhi Golf Club.
Another trio to hold the fourth position at this event was Nonita Lall Qureshi, Shiraz Shaheed and Ranjit Grewal in 1986.
Out of 14 countries playing at the Queen Sirikit Cup, Korea has won the trophy for a record 16 times.