In conversation with Jahanvi and Hitaashee Bakshi
Having a sibling is always a great blessing as there is always someone who takes care of you and every sibling be it brother-sister, two sisters or two brothers are usually different from the other as one like what other don’t and in some scenarios, sibling have a similar profession and same is the case of Hitaashee and Jahanvi Bakshi, both are sisters and both pursue the same profession of golf but their likes and dislikes are different and their journey is little different. DKT Sports was lucky enough to take the dual interview of Hitaashee and Jahanvi Bakshi in the recently concluded Leg 6 of Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour.
Interview:
When did you start playing golf?
Jahanvi Bakshi: I started playing golf when I was eight years old.
Hitaashee Bakshi: I started playing golf when I was six years old.
But why you choose golf as a career?
Jahanvi Bakshi: In the beginning our parents wanted us to be in any sports beside studying so, we tried all the sports we like none so, then our grandfather suggested that we should try golf so, I started first and then she followed.
Hitaashee Bakshi: Same.
How were your early years in golf?
Jahanvi Bakshi: Amateur and junior career were fine for me so, I used to finish in top 2, top 3 then later in the years I picked up when I was in “A” category so, I picked up and I started coming first then I finished first for the national year.
Hitaashee Bakshi: I am always been first in every category I have played from my “E” category to my “A” category and back in 2019, I was India’s no. 1 playing amateur, in all categories I was always no. 1.
How was your first year as a professional?
Jahanvi Bakshi: Still going on the first year in my professional so, far so good I hope I will win more in the future.
Hitaashee Bakshi: For me, it’s been good I have been learning a lot of things so, it’s going good.
How does it feel to finally win in the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour?
Jahanvi Bakshi: It was a great feeling, it felt like it was a part of the journey that was completed successfully like a stepping stone towards reaching the final goal which is winning in the LPGA and finally entering the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Hitaashee Bakshi: It was good and it was feeling like back to life.
What changes you have done in your game which is helping you to play fantastically well in 2021?
Jahanvi Bakshi: So, my hitting has been my good point so, I figured that out if I can play on my hitting and I try to hone the skill better, short game I improved it and mentally obviously I had to improve.
Hitaashee Bakshi: So, I feel I mentally more confident than before, after winning than, becoming professional that’s the biggest change I had.
Can you say something about your sister who plays on the same tour?
Jahanvi Bakshi: She is an amazing competitor, she inspires me every minute, every shot and how to be mentally strong and be brave, fight for every shot, she teaches me that how to fight for it.
Hitaashee Bakshi: Its fun watching her and learning stuff which I have actually never seen when we both were playing in amateur, she turned professional and me looking at her is some next level so, it’s been a great journey playing with her.
How do you balance between being a sister and a competitor?
Jahanvi Bakshi: Nothing, while on course we are competitors we play for our own shots and when we are outside the course, we analyze each other’s game like today you got to play shots here, or maybe what was wrong today and helping each other, when you are on course you are playing for your own game, when you are off course you help out.
Hitaashee Bakshi: Same.
By getting multiple top five this year, is it helping you both to get a potential sponsor or you both already have a sponsor?
Jahanvi Bakshi: DLF is already sponsoring us and hopefully it will continue to sponsor us.
Hitaashee Bakshi: DLF has been quite supportive.
Jahanvi Bakshi: And even in our amateur years the DLF Junior Golf Excellence Program sponsored us which helped us tremendously and once we have turned professional, they have continued their support and we are what we are because of DLF.
Who is the better golfer?
Jahanvi Bakshi: It’s a deuce, you can’t decide.
Hitaashee Bakshi: Exactly.
How much your parents have supported you to play this game?
Jahanvi Bakshi: Our father is in the Army so, he has saved up every penny he could for us to continue playing golf obviously sponsorship by DLF has been a major change, our mother has been always been with us in each and every shot she’s with us so, she’s been an excellent motivator.
Hitaashee Bakshi: Our parents both mom and dad have supported us throughout our golfing career they are our pillars of strength and motivation and they have been always by our side, I am proud of them.
How impressed are your parents with your success?
Jahanvi Bakshi: It is a part of the journey like I have said and it’s a stepping stone so yeah, a little bit.
Hitaashee Bakshi: This is just the beginning of a journey and every journey starts with a single step so, this the first step.
Do you both have the same coach or a different coach?
Jahanvi Bakshi: Same coach.
Hitaashee Bakshi: And we both have worked under Anitya Chand for the past ten years.
What club suits you the best?
Jahanvi Bakshi: For me, it would be me driver and pitching wedge.
Hitaashee Bakshi: For me, it's my lob wedge and 7 iron.
Goal in the coming three years?
Jahanvi Bakshi: Making it into the Ladies European Tour.
Hitaashee Bakshi: Making myself as strong as possible and making the tour card in Q-School and then go to the LPGA.
What is your ultimate dream?
Jahanvi Bakshi: To enter the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Hitaashee Bakshi: To become world number 1.
March 23, 2021 in Interviews
Interview of Seher Atwal
Recently in Leg 6 of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour, DKT Sports interviewed professional golfer Seher Atwal and in the interview she talks about her first professional victory and experience of playing in America’s NCAA.
Interview:
How did you get into golf?
So, I started at the age of around 6, I used to go with my dad and my sister, my sister used to play so, we were young so, being a younger sister, I would just accompany her to the club and I saw her play and that’s how I started picking up the sport myself.
How were your early years in the sport?
I still do remember my early years because I travelled a lot, I guess I was young and I was into it and I used to play a lot of sports so, it’s not like that golf is the only sport I played, I used to horse ride, I used to swim so, it's not like that I focused into golf but I definitely enjoyed playing cause I remember playing in the US Open I went to the States, I played in the US Kids and also went to Scotland and played so, I quite enjoyed playing as a junior and by the age of 11-12 I was sure this is what I wanted to do so, I then got more into it.
What is the contribution of your father, a former amateur golfer and participant of the 1984 World Amateur Championship?
So, for sure my dad has a huge role to play because my sister started playing because of him and being the younger daughter, I started playing followed my sister and my father’s footsteps, he did play back in the day, he doesn’t play anymore, however, he would take me to the club, we would play, we would practice and I wouldn’t really say he's been my coach but he has definitely mentored me to the game, he always gives me positives into the game because he has played so, he knows how it is when you are playing in the leader group or if I am behind and I need to catch up like he would always tell me and talk me through it so, I guess that always helps when I am playing.
How does it feel to finally win your first professional event in the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour?
It was good yeah, I was obviously wanting a win sooner or later and I was glad that it happen, I did slip up in Bombay because that was the first time, I was in the leader group leading a tournament so, for sure it did hurt when I didn’t win in Bombay but I was glad that just the following week in Pune, I had a good three days and I end up winning so, it felt good.
You have reached till the second division of the NCAA so, is the NCAA difficult or easy?
More likely honest there were tournaments where I played well and there were tournaments where I didn’t perform well however, as a whole it's very competitive so, you wanna go there by obviously giving your best, it’s not like you wanna think that its easy weather you are playing division one, two and three, I was lucky enough to play four years in D2 and I felt it’s a great experience and I wouldn’t say it's easy or hard but it’s very competitive there are lot of people out there who won it so, definitely work hard towards it.
How does it feel to have your sister playing on the same tour?
Its fun but I used to play with her when I was an amateur so, we have a difference of four and half years so, when she went to college I was still playing and when I went, she was back and now, we both are playing on the same tour and it’s a lot of fun we get to room together, travel together so, yeah, we help each other out.
What is the one thing you want to learn from her?
So, my sister has a very relaxed and calm mindset which I don’t, I am just the opposite I get hyper so, I think that is something I definitely want to learn from her and for sure apply on the golf course, I think it would help in my game and generally in life also.
Your father and your sister are golfers and you are also a golfer so, whenever you go home is the topic of conversation is about golf or strictly no golf?
Honestly, it’s a mix of everything, its like for sure if you play a tournament or we get back from practice yeah for sure, as a family we seat we discuss it but it’s not like the entire night we are going to talk about it like we try to leave that outside and together as a family and talk about other things but it’s not that our conversation is always golf or that our life revolves around golf, like its left where it supposed to be.
Do you still have some memories of the hole-in-one you made in the US Kids Championship at age 10?
Since, that’s literally the only hole-in-one I had till date so, for me I think it always puts a smile on my face and I remember it was a Par-3, downhill, I think 153 yards but I hit a 9 iron because it was super downhill, super windy and my dad was caddying for me so, I remember that day very clearly and since like I said that’s my only hole-in-one, I guess the only one I can look back to.
March 22, 2021 in Interviews
Interview of Tvesa Malik
Tvesa Malik is one of the best Indian golfers of the current generation and promising talent in Indian golf and at age 25 she has played in major international golf events around the world including a major championship - AIG Women’s British Open and she’s a regular in the Ladies European Tour, yesterday DKT Sports took an interview of professional golfer Tvesa Malik.
Interview:
When did you start playing golf?
I was 11 when I started playing golf, my dad also played and my grandfather so, that’s how I got into it.
How were your junior years in golf?
They were good but my amateur years were better so, I got more serious about it later on.
When did you turn pro?
Half-way through 2017.
What was the first event you played and what was the feeling like were you nervous?
I wasn’t nervous at all; I won that event actually it was in Bangalore at Eagleton it was just a lot of fun.
How did you get selected in the Ladies European Tour?
I qualified in 2018, end of 2018 then I got a conditional card and then I kept my card for 2019, 2020, and now, this year.
How helpful are sanctioned events for golfers like you got to play in LPGA through LET’s Ladies Scottish Open event?
They are very helpful, I found it amazing, just to able to see what the level of golf is on another tours and have a chance to compete and it gives an you an opportunity if you do well to really reap some benefits of it.
Your favourite event on the golf calendar?
Has to be Indian Open, it’s in my home club and in Gurgaon and definitely one of my favorites.
Can you describe your experience of playing in the AIG Women’s British Open?
It was surreal, it was very tough conditions, I had never seen anything like it so, that was very difficult but at the same time really fun, I had a good friend of mine who is also a player Kiran Matharu on the bag so, she helped me a lot, it was a very big learning week.
How does it feel to travel the world and at the same time do what to you love?
Amazing, it feels really good, stressful of course but I can’t complain I love it.
What is the contribution of Brendon D’Souza to your success?
A lot, he is been a mentor of mine and he kind of took me under his wing when I was still an amateur and he gave me a lot of confidence, a lot of help in almost every aspect of the game so, I still rely on him a lot and he helps me a lot.
How much Hero Motocrop have helped in your success?
A lot as well, they were a huge sponsor for me to get and to play on the LET, it’s not easy to go out there and play so, I am thankful to my sponsors and very thank full to Hero for continuing to support me.
Here, in the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour there are three rounds so, do you enjoy playing a tour where there are three rounds and no cut-off or four rounds are also great to play?
It’s different when I started playing in Europe that was a difficult part of it was to play four rounds, I found I would get tired, if you are playing two practice rounds or three practice rounds even, but I enjoy it now for four rounds it gives you good chance to kind of work your way back and always kind of workup.
By Dhruv Trivedi
March 19, 2021 in Interviews
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