India’s Shiv Chawrasia grabbed the top spot at the European Tour’s Indian Open Saturday after he carded a 4-under 68 in the third round, holding a two-shot lead ahead of the final day.
Chawrasia, a three-time Asian Tour winner, surged past overnight leader Terry Pilkadaris of Australia, recording four birdies to lead on 14-under 202 at the challenging Delhi Golf Club course.
A second-place finisher in four previous Indian Opens, Chawrasia hopes to lift the trophy on Sunday to inch closer to his Olympic dream.
“Honestly, the Hero Indian Open is a very important tournament for me and for sure I want to win it because I have finished second over here four times,” the 37-year-old said.
“If I win this one, then 100 per cent sure I am going to play in the Olympics,” he said.
Chawrasia was defeated by Indian defending champion and reigning Asian Tour No 1 Anirban Lahiri in a play-off last year. He also finished second in 1999, 2006 and 2013.
Chawrasia toppled Pilkadaris from the top spot Saturday after the 42-year-old Australian ended the day 1-over 73, placing him two shots off the pace.
Pilkadaris, without a win since 2005, struggled after he suffered two bogeys on his first three holes and managed only two birdies during round three.
India’s Lahiri and Rashid Khan, who won his first Asian Tour title at the Delhi course, are the closest challengers, with both 10-under going into the final day of the tournament.
Lahiri rose rapidly Saturday, finishing the day 5-under 67 with four birdies on the front-nine with no bogeys.
The event, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour for the second straight year, carries an enhanced prize purse of $1.66 million (Dh6.1m).
Scores after third round:
14-under: 202 – Shiv Chawrasia (India) 67-67-68
12-under: 204 – Terry Pilkadaris (Australia) 67-64-73
10-under: 206 – Anirban Lahiri (India) 68-71-67, Rashid Khan (India) 69-68-69
9-under: 207 – Rahil Gangjee (India) 69-72-66, Wang Jeung-hun (South Korea) 67-74-66, Sebastien Gros (France) 69-70-68, Adilson Da Silva (Brazil) 72-66-69
8-under: 208 – Arjun Atwal (India) 70-71-67, N Thangaraja (Sri Lanka) 69-71-68, Julien Quesne (France) 70-68-70, Alejandro Canizares (Spain) 68-69-71, Jorge Campillo (Spain) 66-71-71
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Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
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