Thirteen-year-old Indian golfer Ojaswini Saraswat won the Best Amateur Award at the 2026 Hero Women’s Indian Open after making history at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram. Competing as an amateur against an international field of Ladies European Tour professionals, Saraswat became the youngest player to make the cut at the Women’s Indian Open.
She is also the youngest Indian and the second-youngest player overall to make the cut at a Ladies European Tour event. After finishing the championship at 16-over-par, her breakthrough week marked an important milestone in her young career.
Record-Breaking Round
Saraswat’s breakthrough came after a difficult opening round. She carded a seven-over-par 79 on Thursday but responded with a three-under-par 69 in the second round. The 13-year-old made seven birdies against four bogeys, birdied all four par-three holes and closed her round with three consecutive birdies.
The 69 was the joint-best round of the day, matching professional Vani Kapoor’s score. Her two-round total of four-over-par 148 put her tied 26th and safely inside the cut.
Youngest At The Open
At 13 years, six months and 14 days, Saraswat broke the previous record for the youngest player to make the cut at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, previously held by Aditi Ashok, who achieved the feat aged 14 in 2012. Her performance also placed her second on the all-time list for the youngest players to make a cut on the Ladies European Tour, behind Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, who was 12 when she made the cut at the 2008 Finnair Masters.
Saraswat had earned her place in the field through her position among the leading eligible Indian players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Support Behind Success
Saraswat began playing golf at the age of four after discovering the Mohali Golf Range near her home. She went on to finish runner-up at the 2024 US Kids World Championship in Pinehurst and won silver at the 2024 US Kids European Championship.
She has also trained under Arjuna Award recipient Harmeet Kahlon and currently trains at the Roundglass Golf Academy, according to The Tribune. Reflecting on her record-breaking second round, Saraswat credited the support of her parents, brother, caddie and sponsors. “After yesterday’s round, I just wanted to play good today because I got to know what mistakes I made,” she said after making the cut.
Learning From Experience
Saraswat’s father, Om Saraswat, said the youngster had handled difficult conditions and the pressure of competing alongside senior players well. “I hope she learns a good lesson from this event and carries the momentum forward,” he said.
The tournament also gave Saraswat an opportunity to compete against established professionals in her first event featuring a professional field. She had watched the previous edition of the Indian Open and said competing at DLF Golf & Country Club had been one of her ambitions.
A Growing Pathway
Saraswat’s performance also comes amid a broader rise in junior golfers entering elite women’s golf. According to a report based on a tournament press release, 21 of the 114 players in the Women’s Indian Open field had previously competed in US Kids Golf events, including eight Indian and 13 international players. The figure highlights how junior competitions can provide an important pathway towards professional-level tournaments.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Ojaswini Saraswat’s achievement is a reminder that young sporting talent needs more than natural ability. Access to quality coaching, family support, competitive opportunities and the confidence to learn from setbacks can play an equally important role in an athlete’s development.
Her performance also shows why young women athletes should be given opportunities to compete at the highest levels without being defined solely by their age. As India’s sporting ecosystem continues to grow, how can we create more pathways for young athletes like Ojaswini to compete, learn and realise their potential?
