Sharmila Nicollet

Sharmila Nicollet is an Indian professional golfer whose sports career began when she was just 11 years old. She won her first tournament by the age of 15. She made history by becoming the youngest lady golfer to win the All-India Ladies Amateur Championship in 2007–2008, along with seven Open Amateur Tournaments.

Prior to her golfing achievements, she was a national sub-junior swimming champion, amassing over 72 gold and silver medals in various state and national aquatic meets from 1997 to 2001. Sharmila represented India in prestigious tournaments such as the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, the Asia Pacific Junior Golf Tournament, the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, the Queen Sirikit Cup in Japan, and the Malaysian Open. 

Sharmila comes from a diverse background with a French father, Marc Nicollet, a software professional, and an Indian mother, Surekha Nicollet, a perfumist who runs Padmini Aroma Ltd in Bangalore. 

In 2007, at just 16 years old, Sharmila partnered with England's Laura Davies during a special Emaar-MGF Challenge Match ahead of the Ladies European Tour event in India. Davies recognized her potential, and her coaches, Tarun Sardesai and Gaurav Diwan, have consistently praised her natural aptitude for the game. Sharmila turned professional in 2009 at the age of 18, becoming the youngest Indian golfer to qualify for the Ladies European Tour and the second Indian to earn a full card on the tour.

Her professional career saw her topping the Women's Golf Association of India’s Order of Merit in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. She achieved significant success on the international stage as well, finishing as the top Indian golfer at the 2011 Hero Honda Women's Indian Open with an impressive final round. 

Sharmila has a total of 11 wins on the Women's Golf Association of India and secured her place on the Ladies European Tour in 2012.