'I have no expectations, I just want to play my game': Diksha Dagar ahead of Women’s Indian Open

NEW DELHI: Having fulfilled a long-cherished dream of winning an Asian Games medal in 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan where Indian golfer Diksha Dagar won the team silver with Pranavi Urs and Aditi Ashok, she is approaching the Women’s Indian Open with a clear mindset, focus on her game, take every shot as it comes and let the result take care of itself. With some of the world’s leading women golfers set to compete at the prestigious tournament at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram from Oct 22-25, Diksha is looking forward to testing herself against an international field on home soil.

The golfer from Jhajjar, Haryana, believes that playing regularly against strong opposition this year has helped her prepare for the challenge, but she is not putting herself under pressure to deliver a particular result.“I don’t have much of an expectation at the Women’s Indian Open. I am just going to go there and play my game,” she said.

She played the pro-am on Wednesday. “I am going to get a feel for the golf course and focus on every shot,” she said.

For Diksha, the tournament also offers an opportunity to welcome players she has competed against on the international circuit. She is particularly excited about the prospect of seeing the European golfers take on the demanding DLF Golf and Country Club course, widely regarded as one of the toughest tests on the women's professional circuit.“I would like to see my friends playing here and share ideas about the course,” she said.

Competing at her home course makes the occasion even more special for Diksha, who sees the tournament as an opportunity to showcase Indian golf to visiting players while measuring herself against some of the best in the business. The confidence with which she is approaching the tournament comes after an emotionally significant Asian Games campaign, where she achieved a milestone she had been chasing for years.

For the golfer, the medal was not merely another addition to her achievements but the fulfilment of a personal ambition that had remained with her since she turned professional. The experience also brought back memories of her previous outing at the Asian Games in 2018 in Jakarta .

Having missed out on the opportunity to achieve her target in the earlier edition, Diksha was determined to make the most of her chance this time around. She recalled being in good form before the previous Asian Games, including winning the Ladies European Tour's Czech Ladies Open, but the desired Asian Games result had eluded her.

Returning to the competition years later gave her a fresh perspective on the responsibility of representing the country. Diksha said, “I approached the event with the understanding that opportunities to compete at the Asian Games do not come around often, making it important to give everything on the course.”“When I got there, sometimes I had a flashback of the first time I played in the 2018 Asian Games.

It is always great to be back and represent your country. You are carrying the flag and have the responsibility to perform well,” she said.

She added, “I played there as if it was my last day of golf. I gave everything because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

It happens once in four years, and you never know what might happen in the future. To me, it was a blessing that I was able to achieve what I wanted.

I am grateful for it.”The Asian Games experience has come at a time when women's golf in India is gaining greater visibility, with Indian players increasingly competing on international tours and testing themselves against established names. Diksha believes the improvement in performances over the years reflects the progress the sport has made, while major international tournaments hosted in India can further accelerate that growth.

She also welcomed the growing opportunities for younger players, pointing out that children are taking up golf at an early age and getting chances to compete in tournaments. However, she believes the next stage of development will depend on making the sport more accessible to families across different economic backgrounds.

Golf's expense remains a significant barrier in a country where cricket has a much wider reach. According to Diksha, reducing the cost of playing and improving access to facilities could help uncover a larger pool of talent.

The Asian Games medal has given her a moment to cherish, but the next opportunity to compete on home soil presents another chance to demonstrate how far Indian women's golf has come. And as she prepares to take on the demanding DLF course, Diksha’s approach remains refreshingly uncomplicated: stay patient, commit to every shot and allow her golf to do the talking.

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Key quotes

• “I don’t have much of an expectation at the Women’s Indian Open. I am just going to go there and play my game,”

• “I am going to get a feel for the golf course and focus on every shot,”

• “I would like to see my friends playing here and share ideas about the course,”

• “I approached the event with the understanding that opportunities to compete at the Asian Games do not come around often, making it important to give everything on the course.”

• “When I got there, sometimes I had a flashback of the first time I played in the 2018 Asian Games. It is always great to be back and represent your country. You are carrying the flag and have the responsibility to perform well,”