Diksha Dagar
Personal information
Born (2000-12-14) 14 December 2000
Chappar, Jhajjar, Haryana, India
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Sporting nationality India
Career
Turned professional2019
Current tour(s)Ladies European Tour
Professional wins3
Number of wins by tour
Ladies European Tour2
Other1
Best results in LPGA major championships
Chevron ChampionshipDNP
Women's PGA C'shipDNP
U.S. Women's OpenDNP
Women's British OpenT21: 2023
Evian ChampionshipCUT: 2019, 2023
Medal record
Deaflympics
Gold medal – first place2021 Caxias do SulIndividual
Silver medal – second place2017 SamsunIndividual

Diksha Dagar (born 14 December 2000) is an Indian professional golfer who is also hearing-impaired.[1][2] She became the leading amateur ladies golfer in India from November 2015.[3] Diksha Dagar represented India at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics where golf was included in the Summer Deaflympics for the very first time and competed in the women's individual golf event securing a silver medal.[4] Diksha also qualified to represent India at the 2018 Asian Games.[5][6] She is also considered one of the emerging amateur golfers in India.[7] In 2019, she became only the second Indian female golfer after Aditi Ashok to win the Ladies European Tour and became the youngest Indian woman to do so at the age of 18.[8][9][10][11]

In July 2021, she received a surprise invitation from the International Golf Federation to compete in the women's individual event at the 2020 Summer Olympics following a late withdrawal of South African golfer Paula Reto.[12][13] She eventually became the first golfer ever in history to have competed in both Olympics and Deaflympics.[14]

Early life

Diksha was born on 14 December 2000 and started to wear hearing aids at the age of six.[15] She started playing golf since the age of seven, along with her brother Yogesh Dagar, who is also profoundly hearing-impaired.[16][17] She was coached by her father Col Narinder Dagar, a former scratch golfer who serves in the Army.[18] She considers Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic and American golfer Tiger Woods as her inspirational role models.[19]

Amateur career

She started playing golf as a left-hander in the amateur level in 2012 and noted for her clean long striking during her early career. In November 2015, she was the low amateur at the Hero Women's Indian Open on the Ladies European Tour. She has won several amateur golf professional tournaments since entering into amateur circuit in 2012.[20] In 2016, she became the only Indian golfer to be ranked within top 500 in the world rankings for U18 category.[21]

In 2017, she won her maiden professional event at the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour. In March 2018, she won the Singapore Ladies Amateur Open. Diksha Dagar also registered the best score by an Indian at the Thailand's Queen Sirikit Cup history when she achieved it in June 2018 with a score of three under 69 and helped the Indian team to finish sixth in the women's team event.[22] She also totalled four-under over the three days, the lowest any Indian had gone in the Queen Sirikit Cup history.[23]

Diksha was one of the medal winners as a part of the Indian delegation at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics, where she clinched a silver medal in the women's individual golf event and also became the first Indian to claim a Deaflympic medal in the sport of golf.[24][25]

In April 2018, she was approved to take part in the 2018 Asian Games along with six other golfers who were named in the Indian squad and competed in both women's individual and team event as a part of the golf competition.[26][27][28]

Professional career

Dagar turned professional in early 2019.[8] In March 2019, she emerged as winner of the 2019 Investec South African Women's Open, a tournament on the 2019 Ladies European Tour.[29][30] This was her first win as a professional, becoming India's youngest woman to clinch a Ladies European Tour title at the age of 18.[31] She defeated South Africa's three-time champion, Lee-Anne Pace, by one shot.[32][33][34][9] She became the first Indian to clinch the South African Women's Open title and second Indian female overall to claim the Ladies European Tour Title.[8] In November 2020, she competed at the 2020 Dubai Omega Moonlight Classic tournament.[35] During the 2020 Ladies Scottish Open, she along with two fellow Indian golfers Aditi Ashok and Tvesa Malik became the first trio of golfers from India to take part in a single event at the Ladies European Tour.[36][37]

Diksha won the Aramco Team Series – London as part of the 2021 Ladies European Tour and became only the second Indian female golfer after Aditi Ashok to win Ladies European Tour more than once.[38] She represented India at the 2020 Summer Olympics which also marked her maiden appearance at the Olympics.[39] Prior to earning an invitation to take part in the Olympics, she was supposed to participate at the ISPS Handa World Invitational Tournament in the Northern Ireland which started on 29 July 2021.[40][41] She became one of the fewest deaf people to have competed at the Olympics and she was also the first Indian deaf sportsperson to have represented India at the Olympics.

She qualified to compete at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics (held in May 2022) representing India which also marked her second Deaflympic appearance.[42][43] She claimed the gold medal in the women's individual event during the 2021 Summer Deaflympics after defeating USA's Ashlyn Grace in the final.[44][14] She also went onto become the first and only golfer in Deaflympics history to secure two Deaflympic medals in golf since the introduction of sport to Deaflympics in 2017.[45]

Honours

In 2020, the Indian Golf Union nominated her as a candidate for the Arjuna Award.[46]

Amateur wins

  • 2015 Eastern India Ladies & Junior Girls - Faldo Series India
  • 2016 Chandigarh Ladies & Junior Girls Championship, Faldo Series India Championship, Western India Ladies & Girls Championship, Eastern India Ladies & Junior Girls
  • 2017 Telangana Ladies & Junior Girls Championship, Northern India Ladies & Girls, Western India Ladies & Girls Championship
  • 2018 Singapore Ladies Amateur Open Championship

Source: [3]

Professional wins (3)

Ladies European Tour wins (2)

No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 16 Mar 2019 Investec South African Women's Open[1] 76-66-69=211 −5 1 stroke South Africa Lee-Anne Pace
2 25 Jun 2023 Tipsport Czech Ladies Open 69-65-69=203 −13 4 strokes Thailand Trichat Cheenglab

1 Co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Ladies Tour.

Other wins (1)

  • 2017 Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour Leg 16

Source: [3]

Team appearances

Source: [3]

References

  1. ↑ "Diksha Dagar". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Jordan Masters: Diksha Dagar looking forward to making history". Sportstar. 3 April 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Diksha Dagar". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "Indian amateur golfer Diksha Dagar credits dad for her silver win at Deaflympics". Hindustan Times. 28 July 2017. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  5. ↑ Bhattacharya, Arka (12 August 2018). "Go to US college or turn pro: India's No. 1 amateur golfer Diksha Dagar ponders life beyond Asiad". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "India at Asian Games 2018: Full squad". India Today. 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  7. ↑ Bhaduri, Tushar (13 August 2018). "Diksha Dagar, 17, overcomes disability to pursue golf". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 "Teenaged Diksha Dagar creates history, wins South African Women's Open". The Times of India. 16 March 2019. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  9. 1 2 Krishnaswamy, V. (17 March 2019). "Diksha Dagar becomes youngest Indian woman to win on Ladies European Tour". The Hindu Business Line. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  10. ↑ Selvaraj, Jonathan (17 March 2019). "The right clubs changed everything for left-handed Diksha Dagar". ESPN. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  11. ↑ "Diksha Dagar to defend title at South African Women's Open". Hindustan Times. 12 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Chhabria, Vinay (28 July 2021). "India's Diksha Dagar secures Tokyo Olympics qualification after South African golfer withdraws". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "Golfer Diksha Dagar leaves for Tokyo after last-minute Olympic entry". The Hindu. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Diksha Dagar claims gold medal at Deaflympics Caxias". The Indian Express. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "Dagar Diksha". Asian Games 2018 Jakarta Palembang. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  16. ↑ Bora, Moushumi (2 October 2019). "For Diksha Dagar, it's about the winning attitude". Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  17. ↑ "Diksha Dagar". Forbes. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "महिला गोल्फर दीक्षा ने कहा- पिता को जाता है मेरी सफलता का श्रेय". Zee News Hindi (in Hindi). 12 August 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  19. ↑ "Who is Diksha Dagar: Five things to know about the Indian golfer". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "Diksha Dagar leading amateur in India". Ladies European Tour. 14 November 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  21. ↑ "Diksha Dagar takes the quiet fairway in quest of sporting dream". Hindustan Times. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  22. ↑ Datla, Anand (14 May 2018). "Diksha Dagar does well in Queen Sirikit Cup". Golfing Indian. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  23. ↑ Kohli, Sharad (13 May 2018). "Haryana girl Diksha Dagar notches up best score by an Indian at Thailand's Queen Sirikit Cup". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  24. ↑ "Meet the Athletes Who Won 5 Medals at the Summer Deaflympics in Turkey, Making India Proud". The Better India. 4 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  25. ↑ "Deaflympics 2017: India bag gold, silver and two bronze medals in Turkey". Scroll.in. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  26. ↑ "Seven young Indian golfers qualify for Asian Games". The Times of India. 1 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  27. ↑ "Strong and young Indian team for golf in 2018 Asian Games". Hindustan Times. 1 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  28. ↑ Kohli, Sharad (8 August 2018). "Diksha tees up for Asiad after back-to-back wins". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  29. ↑ "Diksha Dagar Lands Maiden LET Title in Cape Town". Ladies European Tour. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  30. ↑ Stander, Lali (17 March 2019). "Diksha drives to victory in Investec SA Women's Open". The Leader Newspaper. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  31. ↑ "Diksha Dagar becomes youngest Indian woman to win on LET". Ladies European Tour. 18 March 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  32. ↑ Jackson, Keith (16 March 2019). "Diksha Dagar wins South African crown". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  33. ↑ "Meet Diksha Dagar, a hearing-impaired golfer who won her first professional title at 18". Scroll.in. 17 March 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  34. ↑ "Diksha Dagar wins South African Women's Open". ESPN. 16 March 2019. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  35. ↑ Krishnaswamy, V. (19 October 2020). "Golf has been anchor in my life, says Diksha Dagar as she focuses on Dubai". @businessline. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  36. ↑ "Three Indians in LPGA event for first time; Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar, Tvesa Malik to play at Ladies Scottish Open". The Indian Express. 12 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  37. ↑ "Three Indians at a Major: Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar, Tvesa Malik at Women's Open". The Indian Express. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  38. ↑ "Diksha Dagar finishes strong, helps her team win Aramco Team Series". Sportstar. 11 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  39. ↑ "India's Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar set to begin Olympic campaign". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  40. ↑ Gallagher, Paul. "Women's Entry List Final". ISPS Handa World Invitational. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  41. ↑ "India's Diksha Dagar earns late entry for women's competition". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  42. ↑ Sportstar, Team (26 April 2022). "Sixty-five Indian athletes to participate in Deaflympics". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  43. ↑ Judge, Shahid (May 2022). "Explainer: India at Deaflympics – here's what you need to know about the quadrennial event". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  44. ↑ "Diksha Dagar tops stroke-play, enters last eight in Deaflympics". The Indian Express. 9 May 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  45. ↑ PTI (12 May 2022). "Diksha Dagar claims gold medal at Deaflympics". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  46. ↑ "Rashid Khan, Aditi Ashok And Diksha Dagar Nominated For Arjuna Award". NDTVSports.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
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