The straight-shooting Perera, bidding to become the first
Sri Lankan to win on the Asian Tour, battled to three under par through eight
holes and 13-under for the tournament when officials abandoned play at the
Delhi Golf Club due to inclement weather.
Khan, who led by four overnight, was one over through seven
holes while Bangladeshi star Siddikur Rahman moved to within one stroke of the
co-leaders with birdies on the first and seventh holes in the US$300,000 Asian
Tour event.
Two-time champion Anirban Lahiri of India kept
alive his hopes of becoming the first man to win the same tournament in three
successive years, although he is poised to bogey the ninth hole to fall two off
the pace.
Perera, 27, is geared up for a marathon Saturday, with
the third round resuming at7.30am and the players heading out for the
final round in the same groupings from9am.
“I’m waiting to win a title on the Asian Tour. Hopefully, it
will be tomorrow. It’s exciting but the key is to keep under par. I’ve got
to play good again. Hopefully I can have a good start. I’m prepared to play 27
holes. I’m used to it, playing two rounds a day,” said Perera, who birdied the
first, second and sixth holes to tie Khan.
With Khan also chasing for a maiden Asian Tour title and
Lahiri and Siddikur lurking, Perera knows there will be no margin for error at
the ultra-demanding Delhi
course. “I’ve just got to play good to win it. Everyone is playing well. I had
a good start and on every hole, I hit driver as my tee shots were so good. Made
a few birdies with some good iron shots but missed a few too. It will be important
to stay on the fairways. If I can do that, I can do something tomorrow,”
said the likeable Perera.
Khan, 23, was happy to hear the siren suspending play at 1.22pm before
officials eventually called off the round at 3pm. The slender Indian has
slept with the overnight lead since his first round heroics of 61 and hopes the
shortened day would prove to be a blessing in disguise.
“I think the rain came at the right time. I was one over and
the day wasn’t going the way I wanted to. A lot of holes to play tomorrow.
I’m hoping for a good day,” said Khan, the reigning Indian PGTI number one.
“It’s going to be a big day tomorrow. I’ll have 28
holes to play, we’ll see what happens. Today, I started really bad and didn’t
make any birdies. I will need to start with a birdie in the morning, need a
good round going.”
Siddikur, who qualified to represent Team Asia in the
inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM against Europe in Malaysia
next month, looms as a big threat to Khan and Perera. The Bangladeshi was victorious
at the fabled Delhi
course when he won the Hero Indian Open in November.
“It’s going to be a long day for all players. You have to be
fit and be prepared for 28 holes. I’m looking forward to it. I’m feeling
confident and I hope to enjoy the day. I’ve not seen this sort of thunderstorms
in India for a long time, it
is like in Malaysia and Dhaka ,” said Siddikur.
Lahiri, who finished a career high third on the Order of
Merit last season, is 12-under through eight holes but is poised to drop a
bogey on nine after missing a short par putt before the siren blew. He birdied
the first, third, fifth and eighth holes.
“I missed a small putt for par. I was waiting for the siren
to go but things like this happen,” lamented the 26-year-old, who will
represent Team Asia in the EurAsia Cup.
“I’ll be two back, I’m in a good spot. It will be important
to conserve mental energy as you have to focus so hard around here. I’m glad
I’m playing with Mithun (in the same group) as we are great friends. We are
joking and kidding around; it’s a very relaxed atmosphere out there. It’ll be
good for the two of us.”
Lahiri knows he must chase for the win as he does not expect
Khan or Perera to buckle under the pressure of trying to claim a first Asian
Tour victory. “I don’t think it’ll be a big deal for Rashid and Mithun. Rashid
has won prolifically in India
and this is his home course. I don’t think he’ll be nervous. As for Mithun,
everything he touches now seems to turn to gold. He’s won the last three events
in India .
He’s on a juggernaut now. The challenge will be on Siddikur and I to pressure
them. If we can do that, I’ll be interesting,” said Lahiri.
Leading third round scores
-13: Mithun Perera (Slk) through 8 holes, Rashid Khan (Ind ) through 7 holes
-12: Anirban Lahiri (Ind )
through 8 holes, Siddikur Rahman (Ban) through 7 holes
-11: Martin Rominger (Sui) through 8 holes
-10: S.S.P Chowrasia (Ind )
through 9 holes
-9: Shamim Khan (Ind )
through 9 holes, Scott Barr (Aus) through 9 holes
-8: Rikard Karlberg (Swe) through 15 holes, Anura Rohana
(Slk) through 12 holes, Javi Colomo (Esp) through 9 holes, Akinori Tani (Jpn)
through 9 holes, Steve Lewton (Eng) through 9 holes, Unho Park (Aus) thru 7
holes.
PGTI Press release
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