No sponsor, a career-threatening setback and one big dream: Nayanika Sanga’s story | Golf News

NEW DELHI: For Nayanika Sanga, golf has always been about more than the scorecard. As the 22-year-old from Gurugram prepares to compete at the Women’s Indian Open from Oct 22-25 at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, she is drawing on lessons learnt over years of competition, international exposure and a difficult comeback from injury. Her approach is simple: concentrate on what she can control, appreciate the opportunity to play and treat every round as a fresh challenge.The philosophy reflects a maturity that has developed through experience. Having travelled abroad for tournaments, including competing in France, Nayanika has learnt to approach the demands of professional golf with greater perspective.“When you play in India, it is like a family. You feel at home and at ease. But when you play outside, the environment is different. People are new, and there can be a language barrier. I think that has made me a little more resilient. When I compete back home now, I feel comfortable because I know the place and the people,” she said.Her journey began when she was five. Her father, who serves in the Navy, wanted her to take up a sport, believing it would help her develop as an individual. She tried squash, tennis and golf, but the response to her natural ability with a club encouraged the family to pursue the latter. Competition soon followed, and the game became a defining part of her life.One of the earliest milestones arrived when she was 11, winning the Kazi Cup at Willingdon Club in Mumbai.“That was definitely a life-changing experience because that was my first win as a child, a big win as a child. Once you start winning, it reinforces that feeling that you want to keep chasing it again and again,” she said.The road since then, however, has not been without setbacks. A wrist injury four years ago came at a particularly difficult time, when she had just turned professional and was playing well. Gratitude journalling became an important part of that process.“When I started playing again, I began focusing on smaller things and feeling grateful that at least today I can play, and tomorrow I can compete. Instead of thinking, ‘I need to win today’, being grateful for the small things in life has definitely helped me,” she said.Physical conditioning has also played a significant role in her return. A professional golfer’s workload extends beyond the hours spent practising and playing. Frequent travel, tournaments scheduled close together and the physical demands of carrying her own bag at overseas events can take a toll. Nayanika credits her strength and conditioning coach, Shaurya Sinha, with helping her rebuild confidence in her body and handle the demands of the circuit.“Because of fitness, I have been a little more resilient to injuries. Other than the injury I had four years ago, I have not had any issues, and I feel my fitness routine is what gets me going every week,” she said.The Women’s Indian Open will present another test. Nayanika regards the DLF Golf and Country Club course as challenging, but prefers to see its demands as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.“I think it is challenging in a fun way. I do not see the course as challenging; rather, every day will be a new challenge there. It will be fun to tackle a new challenge every day,” she said.That outlook also shapes how she approaches a field featuring accomplished players. Rather than becoming preoccupied with the reputations of her opponents, she wants to learn from them while remaining focused on her own performance. She relies more on feel and instinct than data when making decisions on the course, trusting her judgement when she believes her game is in good shape.Nayanika has also witnessed the growth of women’s golf in India. When she first turned professional, she recalled fields of around 30 to 35 players. This year, she said, the numbers have risen to approximately 60 to 62, reflecting greater interest among younger golfers in pursuing the professional route. Lower scores and more opportunities to compete overseas have contributed to the improving standard.Yet the growth of the game has not removed one of its persistent challenges: funding. Despite competing abroad and continuing to develop as a professional, she is still looking for a sponsor. Coming from a middle-class family, with her father serving in the Navy, she knows the financial demands of sustaining a career on tour.“It has been tough. My parents have sacrificed so much for me, and they continue to do so to support me,” she said.Her grandparents also travelled with her to tournaments when she was younger, stepping in whenever her father’s work commitments prevented him from accompanying her. Nayanika acknowledges their contribution.Away from golf, time with friends and playing badminton help her switch off from the constant demands of professional competition. She also looks up to Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok whose achievements have out Indian golf on the global map.Nayanika hopes her journey can encourage more young girls to pursue sport, particularly in a society where conventional career choices often dominate expectations.“If you fall in love with a sport, there is nothing better than that feeling. Parents should be willing to explore sporting opportunities when their children show interest and ability,” she said.As she heads into the Women’s Indian Open, her ambitions remain tied to the fundamentals she has learnt through experience: trust her instincts, stay patient and focus on the next shot. For a golfer who has learnt to find perspective in adversity, the challenge is not simply to compete against a strong field, but to keep moving forward, one round at a time.