Smiriti, Sharmila to vie for top honours in Indian Open golf

New Delhi:  Golfers Sharmila Nicollete and Smriti Mehra will lead the Indian challenge in the $300,000 Hero Women's Indian Open starting Thursday at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) here.

Other Indians in the fray are Vani Kapoor and Gauri Monga, and the home golfers duo will face stiff competition from 18 strong Thai professionals, who have a good record in the annual event.

"I don't want to be complacent. Although I know this course inside out, it doesn't mean I can win. The weather is perfect just a little chilly when the winds blow. I want to enjoy my game and do well this time around," Smriti said Wednesday. 

Defending champion Thidapa Suwannapura, Florentyna Parker (winner- Ladies Italian Open 2014), Connie Chen (winner - Tenerife Open de Espana 2014) and Sophie Gustafson, will also be favourites to win the title.

Though Suwarnapura is under pressure to defend her title, she is ready for the battle.

"Yes, I'm prepared for this, mentally and physically. It's now left to me to execute the actions," said the Bangkok-based girl said. 

She believes her main challengers are from within the Thai camp. "I know my compatriots are all out to dethrone me and I take it as a challenge. Then again you have the challenge from the Ladies European Tour (LET) players. So the path to victory is not going to be easy for me."