The top two players on the leaderboard at the Olympics couldn’t be more different. Nelly Korda, the powerful American who ranks No. 1 in the world, headlines a global tour and comes from one of the most talented sports families in the world.
And yet, should India’s Aditi Ashok, ranked 200th in the world, upset Korda and take the gold medal, it would likely be a bigger story. Bigger because Ashok comes from a country of 1.4 billion people with a total medal count of five: two silver and three bronze. (The United States has 98 medals.)
Ashok would instantly become a national hero.
“Last time I think it was more just enjoying the experience and staying at the village, seeing all the other athletes,” said Ashok, who was the youngest in the field at the 2016 Olympic Games, “but this time I think definitely here to have a good finish, hopefully give my best, try and win a medal.”
Ashok enters the final round at Kasumigaseki Country Club three strokes back of Korda, who leads the field at 15-under 198. Here are five things to know about the exploding Indian star: