Rio 2016: It’s tee time for Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia

S.S.P. Chawrasia is chased by a large insect at a practice round ahead of the men’s first round golf tournament on Tuesday. (Photo: AP)

Reigning Asia no. 1 Anirban Lahiri and Indian Open winner S.S.P. Chawrasia will carry the country’s medal hopes when they tee off here on Thursday as golf makes a return to Olympics after a gap of 112 years.

Two-time European tour winner Lahiri has been a revelation for Indian golf in the last couple of years as he clinched the Asian tour order of merit after winning twice — Maybank Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open in 2015.

He then produced a dramatic tied fifth finish at PGA Championships and went on to earn his card after just two of the four events on the Web Tour Finals.

Chawrasia, a winner of four international titles, including three on the European Tour, registered a long-awaited victory at the Indian Open earlier this year that propelled him into contention for the Olympics.

Chawrasia will make a formidable pairing with Lahiri as both the golfers have been at the top of their game in the recent past.