Indian golfer Pranavi Urs says her historic title should help broaden the sport’s appeal, especially among young women who may see golf as inaccessible.
The 23-year-old from Mysuru became the first Indian woman to win an individual golf gold at the Asian Games. She also took team silver with Aditi and Diksha Dagar. In an interview with the Times of India, Urs said she wants to use the attention around the medal to grow golf in India and women’s sport more broadly.
Her victory in Nagoya was not straightforward. Urs began the final day with a three-shot lead, but a triple bogey on the third hole erased it. She said she chose not to panic, stayed patient and finished with a 70. Her total was 15 under par, one stroke ahead of Yin Ruoning and Shannon Tan.
Urs has spent the past three years competing on the Ladies European Tour, where she is still seeking her first title. She has looked up to Aditi Ashok since her junior years. Urs also credited her support team, including her family, coach, strength-and-conditioning coach, psychologist and physiotherapist.
Before the Asian Games, Urs became the first Indian woman to win a professional open-field tournament against men when she took the IGPL Invitational Mumbai in December 2025. She shot a bogey-free 8-under 60 in the final round and won by two strokes. After the Games, the Karnataka government announced a 1 crore rupee award for her individual gold and 75 lakh rupees for the team silver. IGPL announced another 1 crore rupee award for the gold, and the Indian Golf Union also announced a reward.
Urs said financial incentives may motivate newcomers, but she began playing because she loves the sport. She wants young girls to choose a sport, enjoy it and pursue their ambitions. The win has strengthened her belief that she can capture a Ladies European Tour title, with Olympic gold as another goal.