New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS): Indian woman golfer Aditi Ashok described on Monday how difficult it was to compete against the heavyweights in her sport, saying she was just a "flyweight boxer buzzing circles around the heavyweights" at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Aditi, ranked 200th in the world, shook the golfing world with her performance in Tokyo, being among the top three in all the four rounds, but slipping to fourth in the final couple of shots to lose out on a historic medal for the country in golf.
Describing herself in second person, Aditi tweeted, "She was the flyweight boxer buzzing circles around the heavyweights. She was the rowing team with balsa wood for paddles. If she was in shooting, her weapon of competition would have been a BB gun... This comparison has me (Face with tears of joy emoji) #roomforimprovement #sadbuttrue."
Despite the odds stacked against her, the 23-year-old, competing in her second Olympics after 2016 Rio, tormented the top pros with a birdle glut over four rounds of golf to card a 3-under 68 in the final round and register a combined score of 15-under to miss out on a medal by one stroke.
The Tokyo experience seems to have had a profound effect on the Bengaluru girl who said in another tweet, "Leaving Tokyo with bittersweet memories. This is probably the most disheartened I have ever been after finishing 4th in a golf tournament (Smiling face with tear emoji) I tried my best till the very end but golf is like that sometimes. You don't always get what you deserve, but you do get what you work for.
"Thanks to all those who watched me play and showed their support especially from my home country (Flag of India symbol). No words can express the gratitude feel towards everybody who woke up early to watch me play. I hope everybody who watched golf for the first time enjoyed it. (Flag in hole symbol) (Woman golfing symbol)."
Aditi also thanked the Tokyo volunteers, saying, "Thanks to all the volunteers at this mega event especially with Covid-19 protocols. Thanks also to the staff at Kasumigaseki Country Club for their hospitality. They gave us the course in great shape with immaculate greens which made my putting even better all week #tokyo2020."
A fan gave Aditi the ultimate tribute, tweeting, "Thanks Aditi we still don't understand terminology of #Golf but try(ing) to understand just because of you (Folded hands symbol)."
"You were so damn awesome; your journey will be celebrated for years to come. We all r proud of you. Just because of you people back in #India had their eyes glued on tv sets to watch #golf a sport in which majority of the nation only knows #TigerWoods!," tweeted another fan.