Home comfort, renewed confidence: Shubhankar Sharma, Anirban Lahiri target strong week at India Championship at DGC

NEW DELHI: Shubhankar Sharma arrives at the India Championship with a win behind him at the recently concluded Kapil Dev Invitational in Greater Noida on Sunday and a renewed sense of belief. Anirban Lahiri, on the other hand, is hoping that time away from the game will help him return to his best. As the tournament begins at the Delhi Golf Club on Thursday, the two Indians will be looking to make the most of an important week on home soil.The $4 million championship has attracted a strong international field with the likes of Rory Mcllroy, Justin Rose, Aaron Rai and defending champion Tommy Fleetwood to name a few giving the Indian players an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best in the sport.For Sharma, the timing of his victory could prove significant. The two-time winner has endured a frustrating couple of seasons, with the effort he has put into his game not always translating into results.“My main goal of playing last week was to gain some momentum coming into this week. I wasn't thinking about winning,” Sharma said.He wanted to get back into a competitive routine, catch up with familiar faces and work out what needed to change in his game. The victory came as an unexpected bonus, but perhaps its biggest value was the confidence it restored.Sharma has also been making changes to his equipment and technique. After trying different clubs and finding it difficult to maintain consistency in varying conditions on the Tour, he decided to return to equipment he knew well. He has since made a few adjustments and worked on correcting habits that had begun to affect his performances.“The biggest victory was to see that the work that I'm putting in is now showing some result,” he said.What Sharma needs now is to produce his best golf more regularly and carry that form from one tournament to the next. Last week's result has given him reason to believe he is moving in the right direction.“The answer has always been very simple: I want to play with the best,” he said. “It's not about being comfortable for me. It's about being uncomfortable and conquering that feeling and going and performing.”Playing at Delhi Golf Club brings back memories of the early days of his golfing journey. As a young boy, Sharma watched international stars come to India and wondered whether he would ever get the chance to compete in a tournament of that standing at home.He remembers watching Ernie Els at a golf clinic in 2008, when he was around 12 years old. At the time, the prospect of sharing a tournament with leading international players seemed a long way off. Now, he is one of the home players hoping to make his presence felt in front of Indian fans.Sharma also has unfinished business at this championship. Last year, he produced an impressive second round but could not maintain that level over the remainder of the tournament. This time, he wants to build on that performance and avoid the fluctuations that have troubled him in the past.Meanwhile, Lahiri's preparations have been built around a different priority: taking a step back before returning to the demands of professional golf.The 39-year-old spent nearly seven weeks away from competition after a demanding stretch on the circuit. For the first three-and-a-half weeks, he barely touched his clubs, choosing instead to concentrate on his fitness and recovery. The decision followed an assessment with Dr Greg Rose at the Titleist Performance Institute, which helped shape his approach to getting his body back into better condition.Having spent two decades as a professional, Lahiri felt the need to devote more time to his physical well-being rather than continue pushing through a packed schedule.The break also gave him more time at home with his wife and two children, aged four and seven. With professional golf involving frequent travel and long periods away from family, the opportunity to slow down was welcome in its own right.Now back on the course, Lahiri says he feels ready for the challenge ahead.“I'm excited. I'm fresh. Mentally I'm in a really good space,” he said.His experience at Delhi Golf Club could be an advantage, although the course has changed since he last played there. Longer rough and firmer, recontoured greens have altered the test, making accuracy an important part of the equation.Lahiri believes the key will be to keep the ball in play and give himself manageable approaches to the greens. Players who stray from the fairways could find themselves struggling to create birdie chances, while those who strike their irons well should have opportunities to score.With so much quality in the field, Lahiri expects some low scores. But he also knows that players will have to be selective and patient, particularly on a course where one poor shot can undo the work of several good ones.The home setting adds another dimension to the week for both golfers. For Sharma, the tournament offers a chance to reconnect with friends and enjoy the familiarity of playing in India, something that can be difficult to find during a season spent travelling from one international event to another.Lahiri sees the championship as an opportunity to reconnect with the domestic game and help inspire younger golfers. Watching leading professionals compete alongside international stars can give aspiring players a clearer idea of what it takes to reach the highest level.Their routes into the tournament may have been different, but both Indians have reasons to approach the week with optimism.The real test begins on Thursday. A strong field will leave little room for lapses in concentration, and Delhi Golf Club is likely to reward those who combine accuracy with patience over all four rounds.For Sharma, the task is to turn a timely victory into sustained form. For Lahiri, it is to make his return count. With home support behind them, both will be hoping to give Indian golf something to celebrate.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.