Women's Indian Open 2026: Three past champions head to Gurugram, October 22-25
Synopsis
Three of the last four Women's Indian Open champions — including defending winner Shannon Tan — converge on DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram from October 22-25 for the 18th edition of the US$ 500,000 LET event. India's best-ever collective finish in 2025 raises hopes for a first home title since Aditi Ashok won it in 2016.
Key Takeaways
The 18th Hero Women's Indian Open runs from 22 to 25 October 2026 at DLF Golf & Country Club, Gurugram .
Defending champion Shannon Tan (Singapore), Liz Young (England, 2024), and Olivia Cowan (Germany, 2022) are all entered.
The prize fund stands at US$ 500,000 ; Tan won last year with a final-round 67 and a 7-under 281 aggregate.
Four Indian golfers finished in the top ten in 2025 — the country's strongest collective showing in tournament history.
India has not won the title since Aditi Ashok in 2016 — a ten-year wait the home field aims to end.
Diksha Dagar and Pranavi Urs head into the event fresh from the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
The 18th edition of the Hero Women's Indian Open tees off on 22 October 2026 at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram, with the final round scheduled for 25 October. Three of the last four champions will feature in the field, headlined by defending champion Shannon Tan of Singapore, making it one of the most competitive editions of this Ladies European Tour (LET) fixture in Asia.
Star-Studded Return Field
Defending champion Shannon Tan returns alongside Liz Young of England, who claimed the title in 2024, and Germany's Olivia Cowan, the 2022 winner. Tan clinched the US$ 500,000 event last year after a dramatic final round, starting five shots off the lead before posting a 67 for a 7-under 281 aggregate — one stroke ahead of runner-up Alice Hewson, with India's Hitaashee Bakshi finishing third at 5-under.
Early entries also include three past LET Order of Merit winners: Tan herself (2025), Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini (2024), and Thailand's Trichat Cheenglab (2023). Four current-season title holders are also set to compete — Eleanor Givens of England (Swiss Ladies Open), Thailand's Aunchisa Utama (Dutch Ladies Open), Germany's Leonie Harm (German Masters), and France's Agathe Laisné (Joburg Ladies Open and Women's NSW Open). Last year's runner-up Hewson arrives in strong form after finishing tied second at the La Sella Open in September at 8-under 208.
India's Hunt to End a Decade-Long Wait
The Indian contingent enters with its strongest collective momentum in the tournament's history. The 2025 edition saw four Indian golfers finish inside the top ten — Hitaashee Bakshi (3rd), Pranavi Urs (4th), Avani Prashanth (Tied-5th), and Vani Kapoor (Tied-10th). Yet the title remains elusive: the last Indian winner was Aditi Ashok, who triumphed in 2016 — a ten-year drought the home contingent is eager to end.
Diksha Dagar, a two-time LET champion who finished third in this tournament in 2023, is among India's strongest contenders. She recently sharpened her preparation at a domestic event at DLF. Both Dagar and Pranavi Urs arrive fresh from competing at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What the Organisers Said
Kavita Singh, President of the Women's Golf Association of India (WGAI), said the tournament has grown steadily in stature through its partnership with the Ladies European Tour. 'A partnership that has gone from strength to strength over the years has ensured that the Hero Women's Indian Open continues to rise in stature,' Singh noted, adding that the alliance 'is, and will continue to be, a key factor in the growth of women's golf in India.'
Tom Phillips, CEO of the Ladies European Tour, highlighted the tournament's strategic importance on the calendar. 'The tournament takes place at an important time in the season, with players looking to consolidate or improve their ranking in the LET Order of Merit,' Phillips said, noting that players 'look forward to returning to the top-quality golf course at DLF Golf & Country Club every year.'
Why This Edition Matters
The Hero Women's Indian Open is one of the few LET events held in Asia, and its prize fund of US$ 500,000 places it among the region's premium women's golf properties. This year's edition coincides with a period of expanding depth in Indian women's golf — with Dagar, Urs, Bakshi, Prashanth, and Kapoor all competing regularly on the LET circuit. Whether that collective improvement translates into a first home victory since 2016 will be the storyline to watch when the tournament tees off on 22 October.
Point of View
A US$ 500,000 purse, and five Indian golfers with genuine LET pedigree — signals that women's golf in India is no longer a peripheral story. Yet the ten-year title drought since Aditi Ashok's 2016 win is a reminder that depth at the top ten is not the same as winning. The 2025 edition produced India's best collective performance but not its winner. If Bakshi, Dagar, or Urs can convert top-ten consistency into a first-round lead they hold, this edition could mark a genuine inflection point — not just a feel-good finish.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Women's Indian Open 2026?
The 2026 Women's Indian Open runs from 22 to 25 October at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram. It is the 18th edition of the Ladies European Tour event and carries a prize fund of US$ 500,000.
Who is the defending champion of the Women's Indian Open?
Shannon Tan of Singapore is the defending champion, having won the 2025 edition with a final-round 67 for a 7-under 281 aggregate — one stroke ahead of Alice Hewson. It was Tan's third Ladies European Tour title.
Which Indian golfers are expected to contend in 2026?
Diksha Dagar, Pranavi Urs, Hitaashee Bakshi, Avani Prashanth, and Vani Kapoor are India's leading contenders. All five finished inside the top ten or competed regularly on the LET in 2025, making this the strongest Indian challenge in the tournament's history.
When did an Indian last win the Women's Indian Open?
Aditi Ashok won the tournament in 2016 — the last time an Indian player claimed the title. That is a ten-year drought the home contingent is aiming to end at the 2026 edition.
Why is the 2026 Women's Indian Open significant on the LET calendar?
It is one of the few Ladies European Tour events held in Asia and falls at a critical point in the season when players aim to consolidate their LET Order of Merit rankings. LET CEO Tom Phillips noted that the tournament's timing makes it strategically important for players chasing rankings positions.
