Pranavi Urs Faces Stern Test As Defending Champion Shannon Tan Returns

Asian Games champion Pranavi Urs will strive to become the first home player to win the Women's Indian Open in a decade, but standing in her way will be defending champion Shannon Tan when the event begins on Thursday. The field includes as many as four past champions with six titles between them – Shannon Tan (2025), Liz Young (2024), Camille Chevalier (2017) and Pornanong Phatlum (2008, 2009 and 2012), who returns to the tournament for the first time in 14 years. There are also three Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit winners in the field – Shannon Tan (2025), Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini (2024) and Thailand's Trichat Cheenglab (2023).

Also competing are four current-season winners – England's Eleanor Givens (Swiss Ladies Open), Thailand's Aunchisa Utama (Dutch Ladies Open), Germany's Leonie Harm (Amundi German Masters) and France's Agathe Laisné (Joburg Ladies Open and Women's NSW Open).

Amid this international star cast, the Indians will also be looking to make their presence felt.

Led by Pranavi, the home challenge includes two-time LET winner Diksha Dagar, who was part of the women's team that clinched silver at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan.

Also featuring in the field are Hitaashee Bakshi, who finished third here last year, and Avani Prashanth, who was tied fifth, apart from seasoned campaigners such as Tvesa Malik, Vani Kapoor and Amandeep Drall.

"I have been looking forward to this event pretty much all year, but I will approach it as I would any other event - focus on my processes and routines, and go about things as I would on a normal day," said Shannon, who won bronze at the Asian Games.

Armed with the memories of her 2024 triumph, Liz also has a strategy in place.

"It (DLF) is one of the few courses where you have to think carefully about every shot, put yourself in the right position and avoid getting too greedy. I have great memories and I will stick to my game plan. It worked two years ago, so we will give it another shot this week," said Liz.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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