Day 1

January 14th 2010, New Delhi: Even though play was delayed by half an hour due to the dense fog earlier in the morning, the weather gods decided to favour the capital. As the sun came out the players found the weather conditions a little easier to manage.

Smriti Mehra came into the lead with a score of 73 one over par. Smriti had three birdies on hole nos. 1, 7 & 18. Not satisfied with her score Smriti attributed an over par round to her indifferent health. Having a short break from Ladies European Tour Smriti is looking for a new sponsor for the season 2010-11. ‘2009 has been a tough year’ she stated but she is optimistic about finding a new sponsor for the season 2010-11. Smriti intends to play all the events on the Ladies European Tour this year.

Sharmila Nicollet overnight leader, came in with a disappointing score of 79 and is trailing behind on third position with a total score of 153.

Commendable golf was displayed by Nalini Singh Siwach who played one over par with four birdies on hole nos. 2, 9, 14 & 16. Nalini was playing one under par after the seventeenth hole but had a double bogey on the finishing hole.

Hockey player convert Bengluru based professional Nikki Ponappa came in with a score of 77 to be lying at fourth position. Nikki who has been playing golf for just over three years is very optimistic about golf as a career option. She remarked that the game has taught her grit and patience. Even though golf is a much slower game than hockey she has not regretted opting for golf as her career. Nikki Ponappa expressed her delight that her sponsors Wipro extended her sponsorship for a period of seven years. Nikki Ponappa will be amongst the five Indian Players who will be playing both in the Thailand Ladies Open as well as the Indonesian Ladies Open during February and March.

Lying at 5th position, long hitting Saaniya Sharma failed to find form once again and came in with a score of 81.

With only three strokes difference between the top three players it will be a great mental challenge on the final day amongst the players.