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Journalism of Courage
Sharmila Nicollet,India8217;s youngest woman golfer to qualify for the Ladies European Tour,looks up to Saina Nehwal for 8220;inspiration8221; and wants to be as successful on the Ladies PGA tour as the ace shuttler has been on the badminton court.
8220;To change the perception of women8217;s golf in India,we need an international win. We need a win on the European or LPGA Tour. We need to emulate someone like Saina Nehwal,who has made such a global impact. I hope to be that person to do that some day for my sport,8221; Nicollet said here today.
Nicollet,who will turn 22 next Tuesday,said she is working on her game after having qualified for the second time for the LET this year.
8220;I have changed my swing,I changed my ball trajectory. I need to improve my approach shots and putting as that8217;s one area where I lack and have been working on it. I have become more creative with my shots,just trying to work it out all
around the greens.8221;
The Bangalore girl said the ranking will take care of itself if she continues to perform well on the Tour.8221;Keeping my card will be the first priority. I8217;ll look to finish among top 80 and then top 30 and 20. When I do get in that zone and become consistent and regulating under-par rounds,I think winning a tournament on LET will be ideal this
year and that8217;s my goal,8221; she said.
The 21-year-old said she has become tired playing too many tournaments and will be selective from now on. 8220;The problem on LET last year was that I was under so much pressure to secure my card,that I played almost every single tournament and couldn8217;t maximise my potential. There was hardly any time for practice.8221;
8220;This year,I8217;ll become more choosy. I will choose more important tournaments,plan my schedule accordingly so that I can practice like few weeks before the tournament,8221; she said.
Nicollet admitted that playing as the only Indian in LET sometimes become a lonesome experience. 8220;My mom used to travel with me earlier but not now. I am travelling on my own. It helped me grow as a person and gave me a sense of responsibility to be able to hold myself there against all the competitors. I hope that few more Indian players come on tour to build a team. It8217;s nice to have your
team.8221;
8220;It8217;s been a struggle last year,getting accustomed to the weather conditions and the players out there. I was the lone Indian there and it was really tough for me. The last
season was really tough,8221; she said.
Nicollet,who was awarded 8216;Professional Player of the Year8217; by Women8217;s Golf Association of India in 2010 and No.1 in Order of Merit in the 2010-11 season,said her beautiful looks does not act as a distraction to her game.
8220;Looks and fashion are not as important as the game of golf. The way you play really gets you all the appreciation. If you have looks on your side,it creates a hype about you and people start talking a lot. But for me,my first priority is golf and will always remains so.8221;
Nicollet hopes of representing India in the 2016 Olympics and her dream is to win a medal for the country. 8220;India has a bright future with the inclusion of golf in 2016. It would be a dream come true for me to win a medal there. I am really looking forward to it,8221; she said.
On the occasion of International Women8217;s Day today,her message to the girls: 8220;Be confident,be positive,fight for your right and always stand for your right,and then the world is yours.
