Left-handed Diksha, who had shot a brilliant 66 in the first round, added a very steady 71.
Diksha is now seven-under 137 through 36 holes, while Ananya is four-under 140.
Saaniya Sharma (70) was the only other player to card a sub-par score on the second day. At one-over 145, she is currently eight behind Diksha and five behind Ananya.
Diksha had one bogey on par-5 third and a birdie on ninth on the way out. On the back stretch, she birdied par-4 12th and par-5 18th while dropping a shot on 13th.
However, with birdies on 15th and 17th Ananya was able to recover lost ground.
Neha Tripathi (74) was tied-third with Saaniya at 145, while Gaurika Bishnoi (74) was fifth at 147. Amandeep Drall (74) was sixth.
Barring a brilliant comeback from Amandeep, the top spot on the Hero Order of Merit seems to headed Gaurika's way.
Facing a 11-shot deficit against the leader, Amandeep's chances of winning the tournament are very slim, barring a miraculous final round.
Gursimar Badwal (78) is seventh at 150, while Smriti Mehra (75) is tied-eighth alongside Ayesha Kapur (77), Mehar Atwal (77) and Siddhi Kapoor (77).
The final round will see Diksha, gunning for her first pro title, play with fellow amateur Ananya and Saaniya.
Neha, Gaurika and Amandeep will play together in the fourth group, and will be preceded by Ayesha Kapur, Smriti Meha and Gursimar in the third group.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
