Rashid Khan’s brilliant four-under 68, which also equalled the best round on the second day at the Asian Games golf at Dragon Lake golf course, saw India leap into medal contention in both the men’s individual and team events.
The wiry 19-year-old Khan, a former multiple Faldo Series Asia winner, who delayed his plans to turn professional to play the Asian Games, shot a 68 and was at third place at five-under 139. Put alongside his first round 71, he was five-under for 36 holes and well in sight of a medal.
The field was led by 16-year-old Filipino Miguel Luis Tabuena, who shot a second successive four-under to be eight-under 136 and one clear of Kim Men Whee of Korea (69, 69) at seven-under 137.
Lakshman Singh in 1982 and Shiv Kapur in 2002 won individual gold medals in the past, while the Indian team won a gold in 1982 and the team of Gaganjeet Bhullar, Anirban Lahiri, Chiragh Kumar and Joseph Chakola were second in Doha in 2006.
“I played with more confidence today. I hit the ball and everything was perfect. Our team got to seven-under today. We had a meeting yesterday after the round and gave some advice to each other. That’s why we improved today,” Rashid said.
Added Indian golf team’s manager, S.Shanthakumar, “Rashid is so strong mentally that he can make a bid for even gold, as he is just three shot behind the leader.”
The Indian team, which was way down after the first round, made up in second round as Chadha, who submitted a wrong card and was disqualified Wednesday, carded a one-under 71. India thus moved up to third, just one shot behind the Phillippines. Korea is way ahead at 14-under (418) while Phillippines is at three-over (435). India is four-over (436). The best three scores out of four are counted each day.
Abhinav Lohan shot a two-under 70 and was now 12th at one-over 145. Chadha’s scores for team event will be counted, but with no scores for first round he is out of the running for individual honours.
Rahul Bajaj continued to have a poor tournament with 81 and 79 on two days. But his first round 81 kept India in the running after Chadha’s disqualification due to a wrong card.
Khan, started from the tenth tee and was immediately on fire. He birdied 10th, 14th and 15th to go three-under, before he dropped a shot on 17th. A birdie again on 18th, where he had a double bogey in first round, saw him turn in four-under.
On his second stretch, he dropped a bogey on second but birdies on fourth and fifth pulled him up again. A bogey on eighth was quickly compensated for on the ninth.
After being even with two birdies and two bogeys after eight holes, he birdied the ninth to turn in one-under. On the back nine,
Indian women’s team of Shreya Ghai, Vani Kapoor and Gurbani Singh were ninth out of ten teams. Korea was leading with China and Chinese Taipei following them.
