New Delhi, 30 September:  Aditi Ashok returned super 6 under 66 in her second round to keep India's hopes alive for two  Golf medals in the women’s section at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Friday. 

Aditi was lying tied second in the individual section, while the women’s team was third behind China and Thailand. India has never won an Asian Games medal in the women's section.

Aditi (67-66) was tied second. The Indian who was 4th at Tokyo Olympics, added 66 to first round 67. Her round had five birdies, an eagle on a Par-4 and just one bogey.

She is one shot behind the new leader, Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol (67-65), who like Aditi plays on the LPGA Tour in the US.

and one shot behind Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol (67-65).

In men’s section, Anirban Lahiri (65-67), held on to his ninth place, while Shubhankar Sharma (68-65) is T-21. SSP Chawrasia (67-72) slipped to T-29 alongside Khalin Joshi (70-69) who rose three places.

The men are placed sixth in the team standings, which is led by Korea, followed by Hong Kong and Japan.

Lying tied second with Aditi is China’s Yin Ruoning, the first Chinese player to win on the LPGA who later became the first Major winner from her country. Yin,  has not dropped any bogeys in her rounds of 67-66.

Of other two Indian women golfers Pranavi Urs added a fine 68 to her first round 71 to improve to T-10 at 5-under, while amateur Avani Prashanth (72-69) was T-15.

Aditi’s fine round of 66 also took India up into the third place, behind the favourites China (21-under) and Thailand (20-under). The team team is at 16-under with Japan close behind at 15-under.

Pranavi Urs added a bogey free 68 to her first round 71 to improve to T-10 at 5-under, while amateur Avani Prashanth (72-69) was T-15. Avani had one birdie and one bogey on the front nine, but had an action-filled back nine with four birdies against two bogeys.

In the men’s team standings, India is tied sixth but are 18 shots behind favourites Korea, who are fielding two PGA Tour players, Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim. 

In the men’s individual section, Taichi Kho at 22-under leads by six shots and the first round leader, Jang Yubin (61-67) at 18-under is four behind. Lahiri is the best Indian at 12-under.

Lahiri,  had six birdies against just one bogey, but that did not seem enough as he slipped slightly on a course, which has been yielding low scores.

Each day, the top two scores from each team are counted towards team scores.