After turning professional in 2022, Nayanika Sanga suffered a wrist injury which sidelined her for seven months.
Since then, the 22-year-old Indian golfer has spent time working on the mental aspect of the game and is now ready to take on her next challenge — competing in Europe.
Haryana-born Sanga, who hails from the same north-west region of India as two-time LET champion Diksha Dagar, will compete in only her fourth LET Access Series (LETAS) event at this week’s Hauts de France Open.
“At the end of 2022, I had a wrist injury,” Sanga said. “I was playing really well back home, but because I had to take that break, it obviously came with its side effects mentally. I was struggling through a hard time.
“Now, I’m doing better, happier. I’m really enjoying playing in Europe. The conditions are so different from back home, the people are really nice, really supportive. Overall, it’s been a fun experience.”
In her three LETAS starts this season, Sanga has recorded a T-17 finish at the Allegria Ladies Open in Austria, as well as two T-16 finishes at the Arkea Montauban Ladies Open in France and the Ladies Slovak Golf Open.
Her decision to play in Europe, splitting her time while also competing on her local Tour in India, has no doubt been paying dividends.
“I started playing golf when I was five,” she said. “A lot of my dad’s colleagues used to play, so. And my dad wanted me to be into a sport. So he put me in golf, and I had a knack for it.
“I thought now is the right time to take a step forward and give myself exposure to other conditions, other golf courses and stuff like that. So, yeah, I just thought this year is the right time to help myself grow.”
In 2023, Avani Prashanth made history by becoming the first ever Indian golfer to win a LETAS event at the Ahlsell Final at Elisefarm, Sweden.
Sanga is hoping to follow in her footsteps, adding: “It was a huge thing back home. Anyone taking such a huge step is a step for the entire women’s community of golf in India. It was a really good thing for us.
“Back home golf is not a big sport, especially women’s golf. Growing up, since I started playing when I was five, I had to miss a lot of things, birthdays and stuff like that. But I always had a goal in mind and this is what I knew. I wanted to do this, so I think the sacrifices are worth it.
“My next goal is to hopefully get to do a few more events, hopefully next year and continue playing on the Access Series. Juggling both the Tours has been a little tough. But yeah, it’s fun.”
