Rio 2016: SSP Chawrasia confident despite heading to unknown territory

The future will be taken care of, for now, SSP Chawrasia is happy with his piece of Olympic ‘memorabilia’. If a medal comes his way, it will be handed down generations as will the tales, but provisions have been made for an exigency.

A customised staff bag is being flown from Miami and will be his once Anirban Lahiri lands in Rio later this week. Predominantly white, care has been taken to also incorporate the saffron and green of the Tricolour.

“It was Anirban’s idea, and he offered to get the bags made in Miami,” said Chawrasia. Once the week of August 11-14 is over, the bags will be kept aside. Getting them made closer to home might have been cheaper, but given the occasion, there was no scope for compromise.

The World Cup of Golf was Chawrasia’s summit before golf returned to the Olympic fold. Now, he’s ready to trade-in a Major win for an Olympic medal. “There are four (Majors) in a year, but the Games take place once in four years. An Olympic gold weighs much more than a Major win,” he said.

Little is known about the Olympic Golf Course, and it will stay that way till the time he arrives at the venue. “I like to have first-hand knowledge as feeding off someone else’s opinion doesn’t help.”

Anirban’s nursing a sore shoulder, but has assured he’s better after physiotherapy and there’ll no let up in intensity. As for discussing strategy, both men have steered clear.

“It (strokeplay) is individual, so the focus has been on regular and solid practice under my coach (Sundeep Verma). I don’t think there is a need to do anything special,” he said.

Since the win at the Indian Open in March, form has been erratic but Chawrasia insists he’s playing well and it’s a matter of waiting for the breakthrough.