Diksha targets title push at Indian Open

Fresh from a strong season and a top-three finish last year, Diksha Dagar will once again carry India’s hopes at the 17th Hero Women’s Indian Open, scheduled from October 9 to 12 at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram.

Diksha, who finished third in 2023, is eager to go a step further this time as she leads a talented Indian contingent in the country’s most prestigious women’s golf tournament. Since its inception in 2007, the Indian Open has steadily grown into a marquee stop on the Ladies European Tour, and this year’s edition will offer an enhanced prize purse of USD 500,000, with the champion pocketing USD 75,000.

So far, Aditi Ashok remains the only Indian to have lifted the trophy, winning in 2016. Yet Indian golfers have consistently been in the mix in recent years Amandeep Drall finished runner-up in 2022, while Diksha’s own podium finish last season underlined her consistency.

The field promises to be highly competitive, with defending champion Liz Young of England among the early entries. Also confirmed are 2025 Order of Merit leader Mimi Rhodes, past winners Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland (2024) and Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab (2023), as well as recent champions Alice Hewson, Shannon Tan, Darcey Hall and Sara Kouskova.

Hero MotoCorp, which has supported the event since 2010, said the increased purse would help attract stronger international participation and inspire the next generation of women golfers in India.

Nearly all of India’s leading women professionals, many of whom play regularly on the Ladies European Tour, will be in action. Practice rounds are scheduled for October 7 and 8, before the competition tees off on October 9 and concludes on October 12.